Shelter Puppy Meets Human for the First Time, Then Shows Instant Affection

First impressions can be especially meaningful when a shelter dog is waiting for someone to give her a chance. Lucy had no idea who was coming to her kennel when volunteer Julie Saraceno stopped by to meet her. Yet the young Terrier mix immediately wagged her tail and showed excitement at having company. Her enthusiasm made it easy for Saraceno to see just how friendly this little puppy could be.

Shelter puppy’s first meeting with human turns into a heartwarming moment

Shelter volunteer Julie Saraceno recently met Lucy for the first time, while spending time with her inside her kennel at the Benton Franklin Humane Society in Kennewick, Washington. A video shared by @jsaraceno captures their introduction. Text on the screen reads, “POV you’re a shelter volunteer meeting a dog named Lucy for the first time.”

Lucy seemed immediately happy to have company. Saraceno explained that the puppy started wagging her tail right away and appeared excited to have someone spending time with her. The interaction quickly became more relaxed as Saraceno gave Lucy some attention and got to know her.

She also discovered one of Lucy’s biggest weaknesses: dried salmon. The young dog is apparently obsessed with the treat, and Saraceno can be seen feeding it to her during their visit. The snack seemed to be another easy way for the pair to bond, and before long, Saraceno declared that she and Lucy were now “besties.”

While the video focuses on Lucy’s cheerful personality, it also reveals that there is still a lot the shelter does not know about her past. The pup was a stray when the shelter found her, so details about her previous life are unavailable. What the rescue does know is that she is a Terrier mix and is about 10 months old. That means Lucy is still very young and has plenty of life ahead of her.

People watching the video quickly became invested in the puppy’s search for a family. One commenter wrote, “She’s just a baby! Someone adopt her now!” Another said, “You have to be kidding me. She’s the cutest dog I’ve seen in a long time and I look at dogs all day long.”

Lucy is now adoptable at the Benton Franklin Humane Society. She may have arrived as a stray, but her first interaction with Saraceno showed that she is more than ready to make new friends.