Woman breaks down watching once-abused rescue dog learning to trust again

In a world where, unfortunately, animal cruelty is on the rise, it's difficult for those innocent creatures to trust humans easily. Most stray animals, in particular, often come across cruel people who seize every opportunity to exploit and harm them. In fact, according to Shelter Animal Count, worldwide, at least one animal is abused every minute. Talking about animal abuse, the report says that nearly 10 million of them die from cruelty and neglect every year in the United States alone. With no one to help, the stray animals silently endure the heartbreaking pain every single day. Thankfully, Christina Craddick, who goes by @christinacraddick on Instagram, and her beloved husband had the opportunity to rescue one such poor dog with a disturbing past. She not only gave him a second chance at life but also helped him overcome the daunting trauma that had impacted him deeply.

Christina's dog, once abused by a cruel man, had a tough time trusting people, especially men. However, it was, perhaps, Christina, her husband, and their unconditional love that made the puppy feel safe and at home. When the woman walked into the room, she saw something that her "terrified' rescue dog had never done before — cuddling with her husband. In the heartfelt video, the dog slept close to Christina's husband as he planted a soft kiss on him, as if reassuring him that he was safe with him. Christina, who was clearly overwhelmed, couldn't control her tears as she watched her dog learning to trust again.

This small yet profound incident beautifully unveiled how the warmth of a loving home helped the dog fight the demons of his past, opening his heart to trust again. "No, I really sobbed," Christina wrote, reflecting upon the emotional moment. Meanwhile, Christina shared the heartwarming incident of her rescue dog, highlighting how love had transformed her on social media. Echoing the sentiments of the clip, a user who goes by @niceolecookies on Instagram wrote, "Well, not a surprise. You got a good one." Similarly, another person, @thedjlazarus, commented, "True love right there!" @markhoward6665 praised the couple for helping the dog overcome her trauma and wrote, "Just shows how amazing you guys are!"

Just like Christina's dog, most canines with an abusive past struggle to overcome the trauma and the trust issues that it brings along. While for some, it is relatively easy to move on in life, others battle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Now, this serious mental health issue, according to the American Psychiatric Association, occurs in people or animals who have gone through emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening event(s). "The symptoms of PTSD in dogs are similar to those in humans and include chronic anxiety; hypervigilance; avoidance of certain people, places, or situations; sleep disturbances; fear of being alone; decreased interest in a favorite activity; or aggression," Dr. Lori Teller, an associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences said.

You can follow Christina Craddick (@christinacraddick) on Instagram for more dog-related content.