Watch Moment Senior Dog Finally Trusts Foster Carer Enough to Play
A dog who was surrendered to the shelter at the age of 9 has been given a new lease on life thanks to the help of a dedicated foster carer.
Jaimie Delaney, a nursing student in Brooklyn, New York, quickly signed up to foster Minnow after learning about his situation.
Delaney has fostered dogs through Muddy Paws Rescue since February 2019. She has helped 17 dogs in total, including Rooster, whom she adopted in March 2023.
Muddy Paws Rescue had appealed for someone to volunteer to foster Minnow since he was an owner surrender to the NYC Animal Care Center's Manhattan location.
The shelter is an intimidating enough environment for any dog. According to a 2006 study published in the scientific journal Physiology and Behavior, when dogs first enter the shelter they have around three times the level of the stress hormone cortisol in their system for their first three days there than those living in a normal household.
There was additional reason to be concerned for Minnow's welfare, according to Delaney. "Minnow is 9.5 years old, so it's not ideal to keep senior dogs in busy shelters where things like kennel cough can go around quickly," she told Newsweek.
Something about Minnow compelled Delaney to volunteer her services.
"The minute I saw him, I reached out to Muddy Paws and volunteered to take him. I grew up with a small white crusty dog similar to Minnow, so I have a soft spot for senior gremlins," she said.
Very little was known about Minnow's life. "All I know is he had an owner who surrendered him to the shelter in early August," Delaney said.
However, from the off, Minnow defied his short stature and proved himself to be something of a loveable rascal around the home.
"Minnow is small but has a mighty personality and was not afraid of letting me know all of his opinions immediately," Delaney said. "He had trouble with the crate for his first few days, but with patience and so many treats, he came around."
Minnow got on well with Rooster and Delaney's two cats but exhibited some unusual behavior around the house.
"He was afraid of being alone when we were home," Delaney explained. "For example, if I left the apartment for an hour, he was fine and slept, but if I left him in the living room to go to my room, he would bark until I came back for him or follow me."
Another area where Minnow struggled was during playtime. Though he enjoyed cuddles and walks and seemed confident enough, he would often freeze when Delaney tried to engage with him in this manner.
"If I really had to guess, I would say it might be that it took him a few weeks to realize the space we were in was also his," she said. "Most of the time, he just slept on the couch in his special blanket out of the way of the other animals, but I think after about a month, he realized he could join in, too."
That eventually changed, though, with Delaney capturing the breakthrough in a clip shared to TikTok under the handle Though she credits her cat for "trying to play with him for a few days before," Delaney believes much of it came down to the incredibly close relationship she forged with Minnow.
It was a relationship that went through the rockiest of starts. "He had a pretty tough case of kennel cough in his first week, so there were several nights we laid on the bathroom floor with the steamer going to help his congestion," she said.
"He came with me everywhere, from the ferry to Manhattan to the CVS checkout line, to NYFW, to restaurants. Several nights, he slept against my chest in bed. My boyfriend also adored him."
Minnow accompanied them everywhere they went, with Delaney often holding him close in her arms while out on the street "so he could be included" in every conversation they had with friends and family.
"I think he just realized he was really loved and cared about," she said. "He's a senior dog, but it felt like he was getting younger and younger every week."
That renewed vigor led to the best possible outcome. On September 21, Minnow was adopted and has since headed off to begin his life in a happy new home. That's all Delaney has ever wanted, and while videos like the one of Minnow finding his confidence make for heartwarming viewing, she hopes they also inspire others to foster like her.
"There are so many incredible dogs of all ages in shelters who just need one person to give them a chance. I have fostered ages 8 weeks to 13 years and from 5 pounds to 95 pounds, and never once have I regretted it," she said.
"Minnow was an old crusty little dog with about five teeth left and an overwhelming amount of love to give, and I really hope he can inspire people to give other dogs a chance to share that bond with them."
This story was originally published September 28, 2024, 8:00 AM.
