Papa Dog Is Left Behind as His Puppies Find Homes, Slowly Learning To Trust Again After Rescue

After being found with four puppies and watching them leave for their new homes, Joe needed a place where nobody would rush him. The video shared by @kensingtoncampbell follows his first steps in foster care, where everything is a bit much for him. He keeps his distance in the yard, watches the people around him, and spends much of his time tucked away on a towel.

This rescue papa dog is trying to understand that life has changed. But there are small signs that he is starting to feel safer. This includes one sweet moment when he finally rolls over and asks for a belly rub.

Rescue papa dog slowly learns to trust again at new home

Joe’s first moments in the foster home are difficult to watch. He lies in a corner of the yard, shaking as a person places a calming hand on him. You can tell he is extremely tensed and wary. In another shot, we see him lying on a towel and keeping to himself. He sits up occasionally to watch the humans around him, but he does not rush over.

His foster family explains that it took four days before Joe would even relieve himself. He hid for those four days, holding everything in because he was too frightened to relax. Then, little by little, things start changing. Joe begins stepping out into the yard on his own. He manages a bath and becomes a little more comfortable with the attention that follows. Most of the time, though, he still prefers his own space.

Then we witness an extremely sweet moment. Joe lies down and shows his belly for the first time, giving his foster family a chance to offer him a belly rub. It is a small thing, but for a dog who spent so much time hiding, it is a big sign that trust is starting to happen.

The family said they expected his recovery to take months. Instead, Joe kept making small gains in his own time. The original video received more than 2,100 likes, and there is an even happier update to his story. After about two months at his foster home, Joe Black was adopted by a family who promised to love and protect him.