A rescue dog’s reaction to being dropped off at his sitter’s house has tugged at the heartstrings of viewers online.
Rudy, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier lurcher mix, was captured peering out of a window melodramatically as his owner walked away after leaving him with his sitter. He then went on to rest his head on a couch in sorrow. The video, shared by Rudy’s sitter, Ross, was shared to TikTok under @rossramblesuk on July 24.
Despite his initial upset, which was visible behind the overlaid text, “when you miss your people,” Rudy’s spirits lifted after spending time with the sitter he has developed a close bond with.
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“Rudy is a sweet, sensitive soul who takes a while to build up trust with new people,” Ross, who would prefer to keep his full identity private, told Newsweek. “Because of this, it was especially exciting for me when Rudy started letting out his ‘goofy’ side.
@rossramblesuk
“He was a rescue dog and he likely faced an awful life as either a bait dog, fighting dog, hare courser or racer prior to being rescued, so when you see those kinds of dogs just having fun and enjoying life it makes me smile.”
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Ross, who is based in England, felt compelled to take up dog sitting on a part-time basis due to the rewarding feeling he gets from supporting dogs—especially those who have had a tough start in life. The animal lover has a full-time role in a different industry, but always takes the time to send all the “funny” videos he snaps of his clients’ pets to their respective owners.
“I know they are likely worrying about their furry family members while away on holiday,” he said.
For pet owners, the peace of mind that comes from knowing their pets are in good hands while they are away is invaluable. The short clip not only highlights the bond between Rudy and his owner but also the importance of selecting a trustworthy pet sitter, like Ross.
The Humane Society of the United States advises pet owners to run interviews for potential sitters, and to allow their pets to meet their prospective sitter before booking in any sitting dates. This can help owners figure out if their pet would feel comfortable and bond well with a particular sitter and vice versa, which is especially important if one’s pet has a troubled past.
Rudy, despite his difficult background, has grown in confidence since living with his new family. His more playful moments are a testament to his recovery.
“His owners simply call these moments ‘beans’ as in the phrase ‘he’s full of beans’,” Ross said. “It’s just him being really playful and mischievous.”
Viewers online have gushed over Ross’ videos, each of which feature the dogs that he looks after in his spare time.
“There is something pure and timeless about a dog being happy that can help people forget about whatever is going on in the world or their lives for a short moment at least,” he said.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
