Woman gets teary seeing abused rescue dog show his first sign of 'trust': 'He's never...'

Some rescue animals carry the weight of their past long after they’ve been saved — their new homes offer safety, but healing is rarely instant. One dog named Norman took nearly two years before showing signs that he finally felt safe, and when he did, it left his owner in tears. The video was shared by TikTok user Christina Craddick (@christinancraddick), who adopted Norman with her husband in Los Angeles. After nearly two years of distance, Norman did something he had never done before.

Craddick walked into the bedroom and found her husband lying on the bed with Norman curled beside him, head resting on his shoulder. Her husband leaned down and kissed the dog’s head, to which Norman didn’t flinch; he stayed close, calm and still. Craddick later told Newsweek that he had been rescued from a meat market in Korea, where he was kept chained outdoors and abused. Though far removed from that environment, Norman remained fearful — especially of her husband. "For the first few months of us adopting him, Norman wouldn’t even leave his bed unless he was using the bathroom or eating," Christina told Newsweek through TikTok.

The couple gave him time and space, knowing trust wouldn’t come quickly. That patience reflected what experts describe as the "Rule of 3" — a guideline that suggests many rescue dogs need about three days to decompress, three weeks to start settling in, and up to three months to adjust to their new home. In some cases, especially where trauma is involved, it can take much longer. According to The Faithful Dog, rescue dogs may continue to show signs of stress, anxiety, or withdrawal for six to eight weeks or more. Their behavior may shift gradually, sometimes in subtle ways. When they do begin to relax, it’s a sign that trust is taking root.

The moment moved Craddick to tears. "I ugly sobbed. This is all I ever need," she wrote in the caption. According to her follow-up, that wasn’t a one-time moment. "He’ll actually jump on the bed now to hang out with him when I’m not there, which is REALLY big for him," she said. Norman’s change was a long time coming, but when it happened, it was gentle and unmistakable. The clip gained a lot of attention and love and viewers were deeply touched by the unconditional love between Norman and his new family.

@mirandasuewho wrote, "STOPPPPP I just started 'girl time' so I’m WAY TOO HORMONAL for this!" @bethoffriends said, "This is proof you picked the right man for this baby to feel so safe." @ericasummers commented, "Please don’t let me fall in love with this dog. I’m already in love with Tiki. I cannot handle two rescue dogs learning how to love life at the same time. My heart will explode." @mosieposieco said, "I SOBBED the first time my rescue did this — she was bull-whipped by a male regularly, so I never thought it would happen." @bullymomx2 added, "My foster who is terrified of men will ONLY approach my husband when he is laying in bed. Poor lil guy is so scared otherwise." @saapipa wrote, "That dog low key just gave that man the best compliment he will ever receive."

You can follow Christina Craddick (@christinancraddick) on TikTok for more of her dog's content.