Footage captured by a woman's home security camera shows the incredible moment a mistreated dog ran away and wound up on her new owner's doorstep.
TikTok user Miranda Ponce (@miranda.nicole1) shared a video of the moment when Chloe, an English bulldog, ran down the street and turned up in her front yard seeking help. Ponce, 22, of Los Angeles, explained that her aunt, Patricia, was pulling onto the driveway when she spotted Chloe standing out in the rain.
When this happened back in August 2023, Ponce had no idea where the dog came from, but she told Newsweek that she knew straight away she'd come "from a bad place due to her cuts and scabs."
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She took Chloe into the house to feed her, give her some water, and to try to bathe her as she was so dirty. But the poor dog was nervous and riddled with fear, leaving Ponce in tears.
"While bathing her, I put my arm over her to carry her in, and she dropped to the floor flinching in fear. It broke my heart, and I held her and started crying as I was imagining what she'd been through," Ponce said.
"I wore gloves to bathe her because, again, her skin was all cut up and I was scared to scratch or hurt her wounds. After her bath, I slept with her in my bed and let me tell you, she slept very well."
This wasn't the first time Ponce found a stray dog, and at first she hoped to find the owners and reunite the pup with them. But when she took Chloe to the vets, she was told that the 5-year-old bulldog had repeatedly been used to breed puppies, and it was likely that she'd had a litter with every cycle she'd had.
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When Chloe could no longer breed, she was dubbed "worthless," and neighbors saw the moment she was tossed out of a car while the owners drove off.
Ponce continued: "According to the vet, they saw a lot of scar tissue during her surgery to get fixed and they said she's had poor C-sections by backyard vets. She was probably thrown away because she couldn't breed anymore.
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"I assume she was physically abused by the way she'd flinch, drop, become cautious and defensive of people, and the wounds I found her with. Normally, I go out of my way to find the owner, but this time, I wasn't so sure looking for them was the right thing."
Chloe certainly found the right home when she waited on Ponce's doorstep, and now she's utterly adored by the entire family. She loves to cuddle, play fight, and of course loves retiring to bed before 9 p.m. every night.
"Chloe is the clingiest, most loving, gentle soul. She's the first rescue I've kept, and I can see the appreciation she has compared to my other pets who only know the spoiled life," Ponce said.
"She's very comfortable and just soaks up all the love and compliments. She's also very attached to my aunt Patricia, who spoils her just as much as I do."
How Did TikTokers React?
After sharing the door-cam footage of Chloe finding her new home on TikTok, the clip went viral, with over 425,700 views and more than 65,500 likes in a matter of days. Ponce wasn't expecting the video to generate so much attention, but she's happy to share Chloe's remarkable story.
Social media users have praised Ponce for rescuing Chloe and giving her the life she truly deserves.
Ponce told Newsweek: "I know she's been through some awful things, but she's safe now and protected. Everyone has been so sweet, calling me the hero, but she saved me.
"I'd love to encourage others to rescue because it's a different type of love. There are so many dogs in shelters and they need heroes to heal them. It's the most rewarding feeling watching your rescue blossom."
In just a few days, the viral TikTok post has amassed over 1,500 comments. One TikTok user wrote: "She picked the right driveway! Bless you!"
Another person responded: "It's like she knew exactly which house to go to!"
While another comment reads: "I'm so happy Chloe got a world and family she deserves."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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