Wholesome foster family takes a chance and adopts the "worst" dog in the shelter, 'Moe', only to discover that he's secretly a snuggly mamma's boy: '[He's] the happiest little thing ever'

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Jul 25, 2025 11:00 AM EDT

How would you act if you were locked in a cage for 20 hours a day and probably mistreated by hoomans for your whole life? Yeah, that's what we thought. We get angry and snap at people if we get too hungry, so imagine how much worse it must be for a doggo. A shelter is no place to judge the character of a dog - they can't be their true selves there. Doggos need love, companionship, and a place to call home. All this to say that you should really give the difficult dogs a chance, they might surprise you, just like Moe did in the post below!

A foster family went to the shelter and adopted the "worst" dog they had. He had behavioral issues. He was fearful. But in his new home, he blossomed into a sweet, snuggly momma's boy who has more pawsonality than probably we do. We love stories like this because they remind us that it's okay to take a chance sometimes. It might turn out just like this!

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    'We have other dogs at home, so this was a risk.
    via David Baileys

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Our last foster had gotten adopted, so we went to the shelter for another one and asked which one needed the most help. The staff introduced to a white, young adult pittie named Moe. He came to the shelter from a hoarding case as
    via VioletThePurple
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    a puppy with mange. His leg also hadn't developed properly, likely due to growing up in a cage. His mange had been cured, but his behavioral issues needed work. He had been at the shelter for 6 months. He had a cage mate, but he had been separated since he ended up fighting. We have other dogs at home, so this was a risk.
    via VioletThePurple
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    We agreed to take the risk and decided to foster him. He had to be carried to and from the car, as he refused to move otherwise. He was set in a crate. At first, he growled at the other dogs from the crate, and we weren't sure if this was going to
    via VioletThePurple

  • Adjusting to anything new can be scary, we get it, Moe! But over time, you'll learn that the things you thought were scary aren't actually so scary, and you might even like them. Like, for example, playing with your new brothers and sisters!

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    work. We slowly introduced him to the other dogs until he no longer showed aggression towards them. We left the crate door open, but he stayed in there for days at a time.
    via VioletThePurple
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    Cheezburger Image 10533684736
    via MEGiordano_Photography

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    A couple months passed, and he had received zero adoption interest. Rescues wouldn't take him since he's a pittie. We know he needs a special kind of home, and that the average adopter may not be able to meet his needs and respect his
    via VioletThePurple
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    boundaries. If triggered, he could end up biting someone and get euthanized. So, we decided to adopt him. Ever since, he has been a complete mama's boy. He is the snuggliest out of all our dogs and demands to go for walks.
    via VioletThePurple
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    We also adopted a younger dog for him to play with since our other dogs are older. He is still wary of other people, but he is the least reactive. He passes by other people and dogs out on walks without barking. He loves car rides and is very well behaved during them. This is substantial considering he used to be scared of going in the car.
    via VioletThePurple
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    I post this story to hopefully inspire others to visit their local shelter and give a dog a second chance.
    via VioletThePurple

  • That's it. From now on, we're only adopting the shelter dogs that need the most help because if we won't help them, who will? Someone has to. They deserve to live just as much as any golden retriever puppy out there.

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    • Not_Cardiologist9084 · 6h ago I know he probably says this to you in his own way every day, but thank you for taking a chance on him. All dogs deserve a safe and happy home and he is so lucky to have been welcomed into yours. I wish you many good. years together
    via @
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    . tilicollapse12 • 6h ago You and your family sound amazing. Thank you for adopting your sweet baby.
    via tilicollapse12
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    Cheezburger Image 10533685248
    via Helena Lopes from Pexels

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

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    Mean-Repair6017 • 5h ago My wife and I got our 90 lb American Pit Bull literally on his euthanasia day. He joined 2 other rescues we've had for a decade at that point.
    via Mean-Repair6017
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    The shelter claimed he had serious hip issues and a skin disorder it seems as a way to discourage adopters because of the tone they took with us. The vet said he had a minor skin issue shortly resolved and no hip damage. F'n lying shelter workers!
    via Mean-Repair6017
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    He was almost a year old and scared of everything not my wife. That included me. It's been 4 years now. I'm firmly entrenched as his backup human and now he's the fearless, confident dog that lets puppies and small dogs feel less fear by lying down
    via Mean-Repair6017
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    sbocean54. 5h ago You're wonderful! I adopted a loving 4 yr old cat from a shelter, and it turned out she was a serious biter; bit hard. I kept her for the same reason, I knew how to work with her, whereas others might
    via sbocean54
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    continually return her. Friends and family are trained how to approach her, so all is good. 8 years later she bites less and is a very loving queen of the home.
    via sbocean54
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    Thorogrim23 • 4h ago I love my golden, but she is the last puppy I will adopt. We have made the decision that from now on we will adopt seniors from being euthanized. We know we won't have them for long, but they will have a great home and much love in the years they have left.
    via Thorogrim23
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    . siggy_cat88 · 6h ago Such an inspiring story! Thank you for taking a chance on Moe! Any way we can see a picture of the sweet boy?
    via siggy_cat88
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    Tokogogoloshe • 3h ago Beautiful story. I love stuff like this, so I'll share ours.
    via Tokogogoloshe
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    We moved to a farm, and my wife wanted a Border Collie. We went to a rescue place for Border Collies, and found this petrified little girl (18 months or so) that would wet herself if anyone came close. She was found abandoned, tied to a
    via Tokogogoloshe
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    pole and on another farm. We had to visit her for 6 weeks to build trust, then took her home to our farm. It's 3 months later, and she's settled in. Two to three walks/sprints a day. Chases me when I go mountain biking (I've
    via Tokogogoloshe
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    never beaten her on the downhill race home). She's even herded a lost little lamb. Happiest little thing ever. She's still not socialised but that will come in time. For now, she's socialised with us and the other family on the farm. So sometimes, it's really rewarding to take a chance on the little scared ones.
    via Tokogogoloshe
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    CautiousCat1945 6h ago . That's amazing! Our current dog, whom we adopted after our sweet pitt passed, had been in the shelter for months. We tore our hair out those first months, nearly a year. Now 6 years later he still drives us nuts but he's ours and loves to be with his people. Couldn't imagine life without him.
    via CautiousCat1945

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aww wholesome dogs adorable adoption heartwarming snuggle kindhearted animal rescue cute animals cute shelter dogs animals rescue
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