A dog described as “the most broken” a shelter has seen finally had a turning point when she first took a treat from the hand of a volunteer.
Betty has been a resident at Dogs4Rescue, a Worsley-based shelter, for 600 days, but on 601, she decided she was brave enough to approach a manager offering her a delicious treat.
The moment was captured on video by relief workers and initially shared on their Twitter account as a collage of images with the caption: “Betty takes a treat from our hands. This moment lasted 600 days.
“Probably the most broken rehab dog we’ve taken, his transformation though slow is incredible. Moments like this are golden. We’re so proud of you Betty.
Later that day, they shared the full video and said, “Betty is having a treat. She sat down and watched other dogs do this a thousand times. Love, kindness, time and patience pay off in the end.
“It was his 601st day to rescue us. Everything at your own pace, beautiful girl. There is no countdown as to how long you can stay here.
In the video, the manager remains calm and still, offering the treat as Betty is seen looking around hesitantly, starting to approach several times, before stepping back, taking a few steps back, then to start over.
She then apparently inspects the area to make sure the coast is clear before steadily climbing up towards the driver, eventually taking the treat very gently before retreating hastily.
The Tweet gained over 2,000 likes and nearly 100 comments, with users praising the rescue for allowing Betty to overcome her fears at her own pace.
Dogs4Rescue was founded by Emma in 2013 with the aim of rehabilitating dogs across Europe and the UK in homes in the Manchester area.
They pride themselves on being a kennel-free environment and believe in ‘pack rehabilitation’, allowing dogs to enjoy a lifestyle where they can exercise and socialize with other animals, gaining confidence. from each other, before finally being relocated.
One user said, “It’s so beautiful to see, but I can’t help but think about what the beautiful baby went through to be so scared.
“Thank you very much for your patience and persistence. You are truly amazing.
Another commented, “Bless her, so grateful for giving her the opportunity to express herself at her own pace without the time pressure of finding a home.
“Thank you for the wonderful work you do. “
A third said: “It breaks my heart to see her check her escape route first. Thank goodness she got you guys.
In another post on Twitter, the rescue said, “Betty is a smart, gentle dog who was incredibly scared. It was unthinkable for us to end the life of a healthy dog just because he needed time and patience.
“It is a privilege to be on this trust-building journey with her and to see her blossom into a happy member of our pack.”
