'Broken' Shelter Dog Blossoms Into A Whole New Pup With The Help Of Foster Sister
Sometimes, a human's kindness, affection, and patience are all it takes to help a scared shelter dog become confident and playful. Other times, though, the loving attention and joyful example of another dog may also be required to break through an animal's fear. That's certainly what happened with Honey, a rescue dog in Daphne, Alabama.
"When I saw her, my heart was completely broken," a Daphne Animal Shelter volunteer, Kerrie, told The Dodo. "She was completely defeated." Kerrie took Honey home to be fostered, hoping that the scared dog would thrive in a quiet, loving environment.
Initially, Honey appeared frightened of everyone and everything, spending most of her time cowering in her crate. "When I first would take her outside, she would go to the bathroom and then just sit there looking at the back door and just shaking, very obviously frightened of being outside," Kerrie recalled in the video. However, after Kerrie's dogs started spending more time with Honey, the timid dog began to relax a bit. Her foster mom observed, "She sees what my dogs are doing and she's learning everything from them and it's just been so vital for her progress."
Honey comes out of her shell
In a TikTok video that's been viewed more than 1.8 million times, Kerrie described how, on day 29 of being fostered, Honey followed the example of Kerrie's sweet dog Ellie and rolled around in the grass — a bit hesitantly at first, then joyfully. "At first, she was like 'this is silly' but you see the moment where she's like 'hey this is kinda NIIICCCEEE????'" wrote viewer Soda_bones. Several commenters noted how sweet and emotionally moving it was to see Honey trying to copy the carefree behaviors of Ellie in the grassy backyard. "Watching foster dogs learn how to 'dog' is the most joyful thing 😍," wrote Sarachacha95.
@barkandrescue It's these little moments that give me faith that Honey can and will be okay. 🥹 She has never done anything like this and you can see she's a little unsure of herself when she pops back up 😭🥹 Honey is very visual and this is the second time she's watched my dog(s) do something and copied them. (The first was coming to me and sitting for treats!) And my heart dog Ellie... you are the best foster sister ever. 💕 #fyp #foster #fosterdog #dogsoftiktok #adoptabledogs
In September 2025, Kerrie sent the Daphne Animal Shelter an update about Honey, which was then posted on Instagram: "Honey has been making so much progress lately! She loves playing with her foster siblings, a Kong toy, or her stuffed animals." Kerrie noted how much Honey enjoys eating cheese and sleeping in comfy beds, though loud noises do still frighten the pup. She added, "Honey's future family is someone who will be patient, loving, and understanding as she continues working to heal from whatever trauma happened prior to her coming to the shelter."
Adopting a dog like Honey
As of October 2025, this sweet, shy dog is still available for adoption. Honey is described as part American pit bull terrier and part vizsla, a dog breed sometimes referred to as the Hungarian pointer. Vizslas are known to be playful and affectionate, with a high energy level and a constant need for mental stimulation, and they're considered one of the most emotionally intelligent dog breeds. Pit bulls, too, need to be physically active in order to thrive, and they tend to be strong, intelligent animals.
As with any dog that has experienced trauma, Honey requires a patient and affectionate family who will allow her to warm up to them at her own pace and on her own terms. If you're ready to find the right dog for you and your family, consider adopting an older dog instead of a puppy — and perhaps even the oldest dog in the shelter. Honey's exact age is unknown, but she seems to be about 7 years old. The emotional payoff of adopting a senior dog like Honey can be huge, for both you and them.