Tiny California Dog Gets Tears In Her Eyes Whenever Her Favorite Person Leaves For Work

When Samantha visited her local shelter looking for a cat, she never expected to leave with a tiny, scrawny senior dog who would completely change her perspective on rescue.

Samantha walked into her local animal shelter with a clear plan in mind. She was hoping to adopt a cat to bring some extra companionship into her home.

She had grown up with big dogs and honestly believed that small dogs just weren’t for her. In fact, she admits she used to think small dogs weren’t “real dogs.”

But as she walked past the kennels, a tiny, scrawny senior dog named Chloe stopped her in her tracks.

A Pleading Look

Chloe was an owner surrender, sitting alone in her shelter cage. Samantha had no idea what had happened in the dog’s previous home or why her family had decided to give her up.

When Samantha walked by, Chloe went right up to the front of the cage. “I saw that in her eyes, like, ‘Please take me, save me,'” Samantha recalled.

The little dog seemed to be begging for someone to take a chance on her. It was a massive step for Samantha, given her previous feelings about small dogs, but something told her she had to help.

Choosing Her Forever Human

From the moment they left the shelter, Chloe made it clear that she had picked her person. She bonded with Samantha immediately, deciding that this was who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.

The little dog’s personality quickly blossomed in her new home. Whenever Samantha walks through the door, Chloe greets her with adorable “little happy stomps.”

She always wants to be in Samantha’s lap, experiencing every part of the day together. When she wants kisses, she climbs up onto Samantha’s shoulders and presses her head gently against her cheek.

The Pain of Past Goodbyes

Despite her happy new life, Chloe still carries some emotional scars from her past. She gets incredibly upset whenever Samantha is out of her sight.

When Samantha has to leave for work, the separation anxiety takes a heartbreaking toll. Chloe will sometimes get tears in her eyes, looking as though she is actually crying.

“In her eyes, I can only imagine that she was abandoned,” Samantha explained. The little dog’s fear of being left behind is a constant reminder of the trauma shelter animals endure.

Embracing the Senior Years

Adopting a senior dog like Chloe comes with a unique set of emotional challenges. Samantha knows their time together is precious and finite.

“Obviously you’re grateful for all the time that you’re able to spend with them,” Samantha shared. “But you can’t help but wish you could have those years that you didn’t get to have with them before.”

Still, every single day with Chloe is a gift. The little dog has completely shattered Samantha’s old mentality about small dogs, proving that dogs of all sizes are fiercely capable of love and loyalty.

A Perfectly Imperfect Smile

Chloe’s physical appearance is just as unique as her personality. Because she is down to just one tooth, her jaw tends to droop and hang, and her tongue often sticks out.

Sadly, not everyone understands her distinct look. Samantha has received cruel comments online from people telling her to put the dog down or saying awful things about her appearance.

But Samantha doesn’t let the negativity get to her. She knows that Chloe may be scrawny and unconventional, but those physical quirks are exactly what make her so special and beautiful.

Learning to Trust Others

While Chloe is completely devoted to her mom, she is still learning how to trust the rest of the world. She loves Samantha unconditionally, but she is hesitant around strangers.

Socializing a senior dog with a difficult past takes immense patience. Samantha gently works with Chloe to help her feel safe around new people and environments.

“She’s gotten better at accepting other people, but we are still working on it,” Samantha noted. For now, Chloe is perfectly content just being a mama’s girl.

Five Years of Healing

It has now been five years since Samantha walked into that shelter looking for a cat and walked out with a tiny, toothless dog. In that time, Chloe has become her greatest source of comfort.

Through all of life’s difficult moments, Chloe has been right there. Her favorite thing in the world is to sleep curled up in a little ball right next to Samantha’s stomach, absorbing her warmth every single night.

Taking a chance on a scrawny senior dog transformed Samantha’s life in ways she never expected. “She is one of the greatest things that has happened to me,” Samantha said. “I will always remember her.”