Woman Warned Rescue Dog Might Be 'Afraid'—Stunned by Reaction 2 Hours Late

A woman was warned not to expect too much from her newly adopted rescue dog, only for something extraordinary to happen within hours of bringing him home.

As anyone involved in the rescue and rehoming of dogs will tell you, it takes time for these pups to adjust to a new life with a new home and human companion. Mary Angilly, a dog trainer and behavior consultant who works with high-risk rescued dogs, believes it's crucial that newly adopted rescues be given as much time as possible to decompress in their new homes.

"While [owners] might have the best intentions, new dogs have no idea where they are, who they're with, or what is happening, and it takes time to build a positive relationship," Angilly told the American Kennel Club. "The more patient [an owner] is, and the more choice a dog is given over seemingly simple things, the faster trust will build."

Erin Swisher from Iowa had a keen understanding of that when she adopted her new dog Prince the cavapoo, who got his name from the fact he was her "Christmas gift" to herself last year.

"I had been having an urge to get a dog for a while so I was keeping an eye on shelter websites and just not seeing anything that felt right for me then one night I got on Craigslist and saw this sweet boy was looking to be rehomed due to other dogs in the house," Swisher told Newsweek.

Things moved unusually fast from there. "They wanted me to pick him up the same night I messaged them at like 10 p.m. at night," she said. "They didn't even say goodbye to him, they just put him in my arms and walked away pretty much."

Though there was a degree of mystery around Prince's life before he was adopted, Swisher knew not to expect too much when she got him home. "Everyone warned me he might be afraid of me for the first few weeks after rescuing him," she said.

However, within two hours, something extraordinary had happened: Prince came up onto his new human companion's bed and cuddled into her. "I was taken back because I just didn't know what to expect. He was my first dog, I never had one growing up. It was so heartwarming," Swisher said.

Prince and Erin Swisher. Prince's life before he met Erin does not seem to have been a happy one. Prince and Erin Swisher. Prince's life before he met Erin does not seem to have been a happy one. Erin Swisher

It was a moment Swisher captured on camera with the footage later shared to her TikTok @erin_not_karen. There was a deeper significance for Swisher. "I honestly feel like he knew we were rescuing each other," she said. "He definitely has anxiety, so I think a home with just me and him was exactly what he needed to come out of his shell. I remember the first time I brushed him he just fell asleep, he completely trusted me, and me him."

That feeling that they were rescuing each other is one that has underpinned their relationship since Day 1. "We've had a crazy hard year together," Swisher said. "He literally saved me in so many ways. I've had tons of surgery this year for a chronic condition I have, lost my job, and he's been there for me through it all."

Swisher suspects whoever had Prince before had never groomed him properly. Within a week, she had him looking like a "completely different dog" and doing all of the things a dog loves.

"He loves to be in a car with his head out the window, loves going down to our family lake house together, loves to be outside whenever he can and loves spending time with his gram and papa," she said.

Prince has gone from a dog who barely mustered a goodbye from his previous owners to one that is loved by each and every member of Swisher's family—especially her.

"I'm back to work now so he stays at home on the days I work, but his papa comes and sees him which is his favorite part of the day. They are best buddies," she said. "When I get home we eat dinner, go on a walk, play with toys and usually wind down on the couch together watching TV."

Swisher and Prince are a reminder that, with a little love, care and patience, rescue dogs are capable of amazing things.