A video of a rescued dog dealing with his fear of rain in a unique way has touched the hearts of TikTok users.
The video was shared by @maggiepotamus and has garnered more than 312,000 views since it was posted on Wednesday.
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The video shows the dog, wearing a bright yellow raincoat, running happily on the grass along the sidewalk.
The message that appears over the video is “POV [point of view] People look at your rain jacket and say, ‘A dog doesn’t need that,’ but you were found half-drowned in a hurricane and you were so scared of the rain that it made you sick. And that jacket made you a brave girl who braved the rain.”
According to a study of 13,700 Finnish dogs published in Scientific Reports in August 2020, fear in dogs can be divided into two categories based on the stimuli that trigger their fear: social and non-social phobias.
The study explains that “social phobias include fear of other dogs and strangers, while non-social phobias include fear of different objects, loud noises and new situations.”
The study states: “Fear is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Fear in dogs is highly heritable, and research has already identified several candidate genes and genes that influence fear.”
“Environmental factors found in previous studies include socialisation, training, regular exercise, the owner’s previous experience with dogs and exposure to dogs of the same species,” the study added.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 6.3 million pets are taken into U.S. shelters each year, averaging 17,260 animals per day. According to 24Pet’s Shelter Watch Report, the number of dogs and cats taken into pet shelters reached 46,807 in January 2023, an increase of 1,744 compared to January 2022.
Approximately 920,000 animals are surrendered and euthanized each year, and shelters strive to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spay/neuter programs, and behavioral rehabilitation.
“She’s very brave.”
TikTok users were touched by the post and how the dog came to need a raincoat.
Samantha Crosby said, “She is so brave!!!!!!! She is well behaved!!!!! She is not scared!!!!!”
Halle Grace wrote: “She’s the bravest and loveliest girl. She loves her coat and it makes her feel safe. It’s the best thing for her.”
“My sweet angel, I am so proud of your bravery,” Bella Biloxi said.
HuskyMomma said: “CUTE!!!!! You love that baby so much!!!”
Newsweek has reached out to TikTok and the original poster via email for comment. The video has not been independently verified.
Stock image of a dog in a blue hooded raincoat. A video of a rescue dog revealing why he’s wearing a raincoat has gone viral on TikTok. Stock image of a dog in a blue hooded raincoat. A video of a rescue dog revealing why he’s wearing a raincoat has gone viral on TikTok. iStock / Getty Images Plus
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom, seeking common ground and finding connections.
