Mom's love completely transforms an injured 'bait dog' — and the internet is celebrating with her

'They purposely choose the friendliest dogs for bait dogs because they always forgive the humans.'

PUBLISHED 1 DAY AGO

(L) A sad-looking dog on the street; (R) A happy woman next to a dog in the park. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by (L) DimaBerkut; (R) Viktoria Szabo)

A TikTok post showcasing the visible transformation of a bait dog has left the internet sobbing. The story surfaced on social media when the rescue dog's owner, Nicole, uploaded before and after images of her pet, Sunny, who, unfortunately, was used as bait in dog fights before being rescued. The comparison post uploaded by @observingniko, on July 6, 2025, instantly went viral, reaching more than 822,200 views and 213,400 likes so far. As reported by Newsweek, Nicole had adopted Sunny in April 2019 from Best Friends Humane Society in Sylvester, Georgia.

@observingniko Replying to @stanky shitty ♬ Kids - Current Joys

Sunny was just 6-8 weeks old when Nicole saw her at the animal shelter. A woman visiting with her brother learnt about Sunny's past and what all she had gone through at such a young age. In that instant, Nicole knew she could not leave the pup behind. Nicole also shared with Newsweek that in a single meeting, she knew they would end up having an incredible bond, "She was going to be my girl."

A woman lying on bed and hugging a dog. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Elena Noviello)

The staff informed Nicole that Sunny was used as bait during dog fights and was the only pup that survived the inhumane activity. The fights had not only left emotional scars on the innocent dog but also on her entire body. Nicole shared that she also had the saddest eyes she had ever witnessed on a young canine. She further told Newsweek, "When we brought her home, we were able to see the full extent of Sunny's scarring. She had a dent on her nose that's only noticeable by touch, and she has scars covering her body from head to toe."

A happy-looking dog, lying on the grass. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Elvira Kashapova)

Making Sunny trust again was not an easy task. The owner shared that the puppy was food-aggressive and scared of men or any big dogs near her. But Nicole's patience and dedication towards Sunny helped her recover well and transform into a confident dog. Nicole further talks about Sunny's behavior after healing, "She loves to join us on every trip we take, even if it's just to the grocery store. She loves the little things in life. Her scars will always be a reminder of what she went through before, but they're also a reminder of how resilient and strong-willed she is."

Numerous users expressed their appreciation towards Nicole and supported Sunny in the comment section. @lequaysiii wrote, "I’ve owned and rehabilitated so many fighting and bait dogs, and you really never get over the anger. They will purposely choose the friendliest dogs for bait dogs because they always forgive the humans." @wilma.lovgren commented, "My sweet boy was also a bait dog once." @gotyournosepeasant exclaimed, "Dog fighting is very common, and it’s sad! People need to stop pushing it under the rug!" @katelyn.radkee wrote, "Thank you for saving this poor baby."

Nicole also shared, "Adopting animals, especially ones from abusive situations, is no easy task. But, as humans, we must take accountability for the actions we've committed. Dogs like Sunny are all over the place, waiting for someone to save their life." She also mentioned in the caption, "'It makes me so sad looking back at how empty her little eyes were. You truly can't tell how bad it was from pictures.'"

For more endearing dog content, follow @observingniko on her TikTok account.