Intimidating Mississippi Stray Kept Getting Passed Over, Then An Accident Revealed Something No One Expected
After being passed over by multiple adopters, a misunderstood Mississippi rescue dog proves that appearances can be deceiving when he chooses his new owner in the sweetest way.
A Rough Start In Mississippi
Before he found his forever family, Tater Tot was having a lot of trouble finding anyone willing to take him home. The large, imposing dog had already seen a few potential adopters back out on him.
He was originally found wandering as a stray in Mississippi. When rescuers took him in, he was very underweight and tested positive for heartworm.
His physical condition hinted at a difficult past. He had a noticeable scar on his arm where the fur was completely missing.
Rescuers initially hoped the fur would grow back eventually, but it never did. They couldn’t be sure if he had been hit by a car or if he had survived some other kind of trauma.
An Unexpected Introduction
Caitlyn never actually intended for Tater Tot to be her dog. She had originally agreed to adopt him for a friend who was in training for the Navy.
At the time, Caitlyn and her friend were planning to move to Florida together. She went to the rescue to meet the dog and finalize the adoption on her friend’s behalf.
When she first walked in to meet Tater Tot, Caitlyn felt a wave of anxiety. She openly admits she was intimidated by his physical features and his sheer size.
He looked like a tough dog who had been through a lot. But the moment he spotted her, everything changed.
The Moment He Chose Her
Tater Tot immediately walked right up to Caitlyn and gently brushed against her legs. She wasn’t prepared for how solid and heavy he would feel.
Caught off guard by his weight, Caitlyn lost her balance and went tumbling down toward the ground. Instead of running away, the large dog saw his opportunity.
He calmly walked over, sat directly in her lap, and just looked up into her eyes. It was a quiet, profound moment of connection.
“It was like he chose me to say like, ‘Hey, I need to go home with you,'” Caitlyn recalled.
A Sudden Change Of Plans
As life often goes, the planned move to Florida with her friend ultimately didn’t work out. But by that point, Caitlyn’s heart was already spoken for.
She decided she was going to be the one to keep Tater Tot. “I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m in love,'” she shared.
However, bringing him home revealed just how much emotional baggage the big dog was carrying. Despite his tough exterior, he was terrified of everything.
Caitlyn strongly suspects he was abused in his past. If she picked up anything big or loud, he would immediately flinch and run away.
Overcoming The Shadows
Tater Tot’s fears extended to almost every aspect of daily life. He was terrified of going for walks and was deeply afraid of any strangers who came over.
For a long time, the only people he trusted were Caitlyn and her mother, who helped her care for him. It took immense patience for him to just get used to being inside a house.
He had to learn that he was safe and that ordinary objects, like the window blinds, were not going to attack him. His emotional sensitivity was heartbreakingly deep.
When Caitlyn first brought him home, if he saw her cry, he would become so frightened he would hide in another room. If she was upset or angry, he would immediately start shaking.
Unfair Judgments
Because Tater Tot was so sensitive to human emotions, Caitlyn adjusted her own behavior to protect him. If she ever needs to vent on the phone, she steps outside so he doesn’t have to hear it.
Unfortunately, the outside world wasn’t always as understanding as Caitlyn. When she first tried bringing him to local dog parks, they faced harsh judgment.
People took one look at his size and scars and decided they didn’t want to be around him. They would call him aggressive and promptly leave the park.
Realizing the environment was doing more harm than good, Caitlyn stopped taking him to dog parks altogether. She decided they were perfectly fine exploring the world on their own terms.
Quirks And Comforts
In the safety of his own home, Tater Tot’s true, goofy personality finally blossomed. He now weighs about 60 pounds, but he still firmly believes he is a lap dog.
He loves to sit or lay directly on top of Caitlyn. He also has a hilarious habit of sighing and rolling his eyes whenever Caitlyn’s mom talks about him on the phone.
He has developed some charming quirks, like a love for honeydew melon and an absolute refusal to understand the game of fetch. He is also terrified of tile and wood floors.
Because he hates slippery surfaces so much, Caitlyn made a major life decision just for him. When she moved, she specifically bought a house that had carpet so he would feel secure.
A Perfect Companion
Today, Tater Tot is no longer navigating his fears alone. He has a canine sibling named Sweet Pea, another rescue dog that Caitlyn adopted who was previously used for breeding.
The two dogs have formed an inseparable bond. They nap together, cuddle constantly, and hate being separated from one another.
Tater Tot is incredibly responsive and deeply in tune with Caitlyn’s every move. He still sits by the front door every day, eagerly waiting for their daily walks.
The dog who once intimidated everyone with his size turned out to be the gentlest soul Caitlyn could have ever asked for. “Tater Tot has completely changed my life for the better, and I just would not want to do life without him,” she said.
