One ordinary morning in Texas turned into something truly special for photographer and animal lover Zaina Ateyea. She was still waking up when her dad came into her room with unexpected news: there was a stray dog outside in their yard. Zaina, concerned and curious, quickly grabbed some food and water and headed out to see the pup for herself.
When she found the dog, her heart sank. The poor pup was clearly hungry and very thin. She stayed far away from Zaina, her tail curled tightly behind her as a sign of fear. It was clear that the dog didn’t trust people, and she was scared of getting hurt.
Zaina didn’t give up. She sat down quietly in the grass, speaking gently and patiently to the pup, hoping to earn her trust and comfort her.
A Battle of Trust and Patience
Zaina was completely focused on helping the dog, even though her dad warned her not to get too involved. After all, they already had a full house with two dogs and a cat.
“My dad went to go take my dogs for a walk and looked at me and was like, ‘Whatever you do, do NOT take her home.’ And I said, ‘You’re the one who mentioned her to me and told me to come help.’ So whatever happens happens,” Ateyea said on TikTok.
She moved the food and water a little closer to the pup, who would soon be named Muffin. Zaina hoped this would help Muffin feel more at ease.
Later, Muffin got startled and ran off, but thankfully she stayed close to the yard. Zaina kept an eye on her the whole time, never letting her out of sight.
As time passed, Muffin began circling Zaina more often. That was a good sign—she was starting to feel safer around her.
Muffin Slowly Opens Her Heart
After about four hours of sitting patiently and staying calm, Zaina’s kindness paid off. Muffin finally laid down behind her, a sign that she was starting to let her guard down.
Zaina was overjoyed. She gently encouraged Muffin into their yard without scaring her again. Then she sat with her for another two hours, quietly building trust until Muffin allowed her to be petted for the very first time.
That small moment meant a lot—it showed Muffin felt secure enough to let someone love her.
From there, Zaina began looking for a loving home where Muffin could get all the care and affection she needed. She wanted to make sure the sweet dog ended up with people who would treasure her.
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A Temporary Home Full of Love
Muffin turned out to be a very sweet and loving dog. Though Zaina grew attached, she knew she couldn’t keep her because of her current pets.
One of her neighbors had a microchip scanner and helped check Muffin. When no chip was found, Zaina realized someone had likely abandoned her near their neighborhood.
Wanting to help, Zaina took Muffin in as a foster. She gave her a warm bath, bought her toys, and took her to the vet for a checkup.
With all the care and attention, Muffin quickly began to blossom. She cuddled happily with Zaina and even became good friends with her foster brother Ollie. Ollie usually finds other dogs too much to handle, but with Muffin, he felt at ease.
Now, Muffin is thriving in her foster home. She’s waiting for the right family to come along and give her the forever home she deserves.
A huge thank you to Zaina Ateyea for her patience, compassion, and determination. Because of her, Muffin has a second chance at a joyful life.
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