Dog Used for Breeding for Years Finally Learns What Being Cared For Feels Like

A soft bed should not feel like a luxury to a dog, but for Starla, even basic comfort seems new. This Chihuahua spent years as a breeding dog. And the video shared by @truefaithfulpetrescuemission shows a little of what she is like now that someone is finally taking care of her. Sitting in her small house-shaped kennel, Starla looks up at the camera, trying to work out what this new life is about. Then she lifts her nose and lets out a long, heartbreaking howl.

Dog used for breeding for years finally receives the care she deserves

Starla’s story is especially tough because she spent years being bred without the basic care every dog deserves. According to her rescuer, she was even denied blankets and medical attention. She was eventually dumped and left to survive as a stray.

When she finally reached the shelter and was taken in by True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission, the condition of her tiny body showed just how much she had been through. She was emaciated, fragile, and in need of a full medical workup. The rescuer says that the care cost $950, and at the time of the post, nothing had been raised toward the bill.

The video itself is short. Starla sits on her soft bed inside her kennel, looking toward the person filming her. Then comes the howl, long and sad. And she follows it by staring down at her blanket listlessly before resting her chin on it.

There is more going on with Starla than just her medical recovery, too. Her rescuer explains that she guards things like blankets, beds, and treats because she is scared of losing them. They stress that she is not aggressive. She needs an experienced person who understands her behavior and can show her that she does not have to worry about everything being taken away.

The video has more than 4,700 likes. And viewers are already wishing this dog, used for breeding, a much softer future. After spending so long being treated as though she had no needs beyond producing puppies, Starla deserves to simply discover what it feels like to be someone’s little dog.