Hearts Melt as Rescue Dog ‘Can’t Fathom’ She’s Finally Being Given a Treat

A cautious dog’s approach to being offered a treat has melted viewers’ hearts after it was caught on camera.

Gemma the rescue dog’s bashful streak has propelled the video to over 4.7 million views on TikTok. Adrienne Renick, Gemma’s owner and an indie author from North Houston, shared the moment she offered the Labrador mix a potato chip, and Gemma, clearly interested but anxious, eased toward her owner to get hold of it.

In the text overlay, Renick wrote: “When your shelter dog can’t fathom that you would possibly be calling her over for a treat.”

Gemma has been part of the family since 2020 and was adopted during the pandemic from a local shelter. “She was extremely shy at first, but we could tell she was eager to love and be loved,” Renick told Newsweek. “Through the years, we’ve realized she is such a character, but she’s one of the sweetest, happiest-to-see-you dogs you could know once you make it past her guarding the front door.”

While Gemma has settled into her loving home, her cautious nature still often comes through during treat time. Renick said that Gemma’s hesitance to accept treats likely stems from her past, which remains a mystery but clearly included hardships.

“For some reason, she gets really timid about approaching if we call her over for treats,” Renick said. “She just gets this guilty complex. It used to break my heart since I’m not sure how she was treated before adoption. These days, though, she’s right at home and my best furry friend.”

In the first half of 2024, 3.12 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count; this was a decrease from the same period in 2023. Despite this, the number of animals in shelters remains high—in the first half of 2024, 322,000 more pets entered shelters than exited them.

It isn’t unusual for animals that have been in shelters to have some anxiety or discomfort around people. Some struggle to adapt to being cared for, even when adopted as a result of deep-set fears and nerves.

In the Renick household, Gemma’s reluctance has turned into a playful ritual. She carefully approaches for a treat, takes it to her kennel, and waits for another call before repeating the process. “She acts sheepish and walks over all bashfully, and then once she has her snack secured in her kennel, she’ll wait to be called over again. It’s kind of become a game for us and Gemma,” Renick said.

The TikTok video of Gemma’s reluctant snack time has prompted thousands of responses, which has stunned Renick. “I never expected it to go viral the way it did, let alone the outpouring of love and advice people started sharing,” she said.

As an author, Renick added that Gemma inspired a dog character in her book “Rift Bringer.” “I thought it would be fun to share her with my followers since I typically only send videos to my friends.”