Copyright Newsweek
A heartwarming video of a rescue dog finally relaxing in his new home has gone viral on TikTok, racking up over 188,000 views. The clip shared to @life.of.mylo shows the medium-sized brown dog, lying on a soft blanket on his new owner’s bed. The text overlay reads: “The moment our dog realized he is no longer in fight or flight mode.” The touching video has garnered almost 31,000 likes at the time of writing. It’s unclear whether Mylo was a stray rescued by a shelter or went straight to his new owner’s home after being found on the streets. However, living in a household environment can make a world of difference for dogs coming from stressful backgrounds. Research shows that dogs who form strong bonds in foster homes tend to adjust better and build healthier attachments with their adoptive families. Even short stays in foster care can help dogs rest more, lower their stress hormones, and improve their overall well-being. Living in a home also helps dogs learn routines and adapt to everyday life, which can make them ready for adoption sooner. Some shelters run “foster ambassador” programs that give volunteers a larger role in finding permanent homes for dogs. These initiatives have been shown to reduce the number of dogs returned after adoption and reach a wider pool of potential adopters. Foster volunteers also gain valuable insight into each dog’s personality — how they interact with children, other pets, and in different situations. This helps shelters make better matches between dogs and adopters, while giving prospective owners a chance to see how the animal behaves in real-life settings rather than in a kennel. TikTok Reacts The video has struck a chord with dog lovers online. "You literally can hear the heavy weight dropping. I am so happy for this sweet innocent fluff,” one commenter wrote. Another added: “They deserve the world. My dog lived in a cage and on the streets amongst much bigger dogs and she’s so so grateful and full of love now. We can learn so much from them.” A third viewer simply noted that Mylo is “finally at peace.” Indeed, life on the streets is indeed extremely stressful. Some animals are abandoned pets, while others are the offspring of stray dogs. According to animal welfare organization FOUR PAWS International, many stray animals are left to survive without food, water, or shelter. Young animals that are too small to fend for themselves often die quickly, while others become sick, injured, or suffer in harsh weather. Unneutered strays also contribute to the growing population of street animals. Newsweek is waiting for @life.of.mylo to provide a comment. Reference Reese, Laura, et al. “Dog Foster Volunteer Retention.” Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, vol. 28, no. 3, Jul. 2025, pp. 419–34. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2024.2355523.
