(copied over from the post I tried to make on lemmy.world/c/aww because I think I put it up right when they got hacked and some posts didn't federate.)
His mama was under a year old, rescued while pregnant from the worst kind of backyard breeder, and had weird scars on her back. Nevertheless, she was a lovebug who got the zoomies when we came to the foster, and she kissed her little man goodbye. We understand she's a fat and happy foster-fail now, who takes it upon herself to cuddle with any puppies that pass through the foster home.
This "little" boy is the most empathetic of the five dogs we've owned over the years, and he has never done anything "meaner" than firmly wriggling away when he didn't want to come in from barking or get the mud washed off his feet. He does crazy human shit like if his zoomies lead him to bump into somebody or step on a toe, he'll bring whatever toy was at the center of the play, drop it in the lap of the affected human, then immediately lie down next to them and get calm. He wasn't taught this, but he has an instinct for what humans and dogs need from him and just wants everyone to be as happy as he is.
Houston has been instrumental in helping our other rescue, a blue heeler mix, make the final steps from a scared former-stray to a dog that remembers what play is, is confident of his place in the family, and knows how to fully trust another dog.
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