A sweet pupper named Chapo didn’t have a happy childhood like he deserved. 

Instead, after being saved from an abusive owner who tied him in his backyard for four years, he was in such rough shape that he was placed on the shelter’s euthanasia list. 

Hearing about his situation, a woman named Claudia Papp decided to open up the door to her warm and loving home and take the pup in as a foster from the Diamonds in the Ruff Animal Rescue. 

When he arrived at his new home, Chapo wasn’t really sure what to think.  

Adjustment Period

Chapo wasn’t in good condition. His body was covered in fleas, he had worms and a skin infection and his teeth had been fractured. And, on top of all that, he was absolutely terrified. 

“He probably didn’t even walk toward me for at least five days. He stood at the back door, staring at it the entire first night,” Papp told The Dodo.

As you can imagine, because of all the trauma he faced, Chapo needed some extra time to feel comfortable in his new home, with his new people. Even five months after he arrived, he was scared to step a paw outside. 

Before she took in Chapo, Papp had fostered 47 lovely pups. However, after seeing how sweet and gentle he was, there was no way for her to say goodbye to him. Therefore, Chapo became her first foster fail. 

Since she already had a cat, Papp one day noticed how sweet he was toward her. That is why she decided to take in a foster kitty named Cecily. 

Meant To Be

The second he met Cecily, Chapo was instantly drawn to her. She was super happy and playful – a cat who wasn’t afraid to take on the world. But, when she saw how calm and respectful Chapo was, she felt safe around him. 

After the two spent some time together, Chapo finally felt safe and comfortable in his new home. When two short weeks passed by, Chapo gathered up the courage he needed to finally walk out of the home and into the backyard. 

“It was just something about her that gave him this level of confidence he’d never had the entire time he’d been with me and probably his entire life,” Papp said.

Papp was blown away by the fact that all her timid pup needed to come out of his shell was a little kitty. So, it only made sense to her that she continued rescuing kittens. 

As he became friends with more and more cats, Chapo became more comfortable, affectionate, and safe!

In a way, the kittens served as role models for him since Papp noticed that he would imitate their movements. For example, whenever he would see a cat on its back, he would do the same.  

And, because a lot of kittens had health concerns, Chapo helped nurture them back to health. They helped each other heal!

“He just has this nurturing ability that I’ll never really understand how he got, because he certainly didn’t learn it from the person who had him before,” Papp said.

Four years have passed since Chapo arrived at his new home and he is absolutely thriving. 

Papp is truly amazed by his progress as she had no idea that transforming into such a happy pup was even possible for him. Thankfully, it was!

Thanks to all the sweet kittens Papp fostered, her lovely furry friend is having the best time ever. And, if this doesn’t debunk the myth of cats and dogs being sworn enemies, I don’t know what will. 

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Source: USA Today