Tears as Family Pet Teaches Foster Pup ‘How to Be a Dog’

A foster dog named Roger has been getting a crash-course in the finer points of being a domesticated dog from his new carer’s other rescue pup.

Jesse Willis from Acworth, Georgia, took to TikTok to share footage of Roger, a pit bull, being put through his paces by Willis’ dog, Chowder, who is a pit bull and Catahoula mix.

The video, posted last week under the handle @jesse.cataylor, is accompanied by a caption explaining that Chowder is teaching Roger “how to be a dog and play.” Willis included an emoji indicating she was getting teary-eyed at the sight of them together.

It’s another reminder of the incredible role foster carers play in helping shelter dogs find homes. Willis has been involved in animal rescue, veterinary medicine and fostering for almost a decade now and, in truth, Roger might not be here today were it not for her.

“I saw he was on the list at Bartow Animal Control to be euthanized and I stepped up to foster,” Willis told Newsweek.

As is so often the case, Roger’s life before he wound up at the shelter is unknown. “He was found as a stray and that’s really all we know about him,” Willis added.

What was clear, however, was that Roger was in desperate need of help from someone like her. “He’s been severely malnourished for a large portion of his life,” she said.

The plan is to get Roger happy and up to a healthy weight, with the hope of him eventually being adopted. Being with a foster carer, where Roger can benefit from a greater amount of comfort and attention than he would in the shelter, is crucial.

Studies have highlighted the benefits this can bring. In 2018, research published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science highlighted how just 15 minutes of one-on-one petting, including speaking in a calm voice, was enough to provide a shelter dog with a measurable boost to their overall wellbeing.

But it’s not just Willis helping to bring out the best in Roger. From the moment he arrived, Chowder has helped his new friend get comfortable in his new surroundings. Willis says they are already the best of friends.

“He was scared of his own shadow when he first got here and Chowder just immediately brought out his personality,” she said.

She hopes that the footage shared on her TikTok channel helps people see that dogs like Roger are more than deserving of a happy home.

“I hope maybe it will convince even just one person that shelter dogs, especially pit bulls, deserve a chance to experience life,” she said. “If you can’t foster, donate. If you can’t donate, at least share them on social media.”

Roger has already started obedience training with Willis and, though it is early days, she has a pretty good idea of the kind of home that would suit him best.

“He loves kids, cats, and other dogs so at the very least someone has one or all of these things or someone who is active and would take him places to socialize,” she said.

With her and Chowder helping him every step of the way, anything is possible.
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