Toro is a five-year-old pup with a painful past.

Toro, alongside two other pups, was rescued and brought to a shelter after he was found chained to a fence outside an abandoned house.

The poor pup was weighed down by the nearly 16-pound-heavy chain and it is believed that he’s spent his entire life outside.

After Toro and his co-prisoners were unchained and removed from the abandoned house, they were brought to the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter where they received the attention and care they needed.

Toro was initially very shy and scared and didn’t necessarily seem to understand that he was finally safe.

It looked like all those years of neglect had perhaps broken the little pup’s spirit.

After having been so betrayed and mistreated by humans in the past, it would have been understandable if Toro never trusted another human being ever again.

But as it turns out, that’s not how Toro intends to live his life.

Slowly, Toro began warming up and trusting his new surroundings more and more, and it became clear that the little pup has a big and affectionate heart.

Though it takes him a while to get comfortable around new people, it is more than obvious that the little guy just wants to love and be loved.

One day, after having grown successfully more comfortable around the people at the shelter, Toro decided to show his love for his rescuers in the most adorable way.

Toro was out in the yard playing around when he suddenly approached staff member Melissa Fogarty.

To her surprise, the pup snuggled up in her lap and pressed himself against her chest in a heartfelt hug.

This turned out of to be the first hug of many, as Toro soon began hugging everyone he considered a friend.

Now, Toro is known around the shelter for his sweet hugs and everyone loves him dearly.

Toro can still get a little bit shy and nervous and isn’t always super comfortable with the hustle and bustle that living at a shelter sometimes entails, but he loves and trusts everyone working there.

Everyone is rooting for sweet little Toro to find his perfect forever home, but he’s already spent a year at the shelter without finding a family that’s ready to give him the love and patience he needs.

Toro briefly moved in with a potential family this last January but was returned to the shelter after less than two weeks.

Due to his past trauma, the sweet boy needs a family that’s ready to provide him with a lot of love, structure, training and patience.

For the right family, Toro is sure to bring so much love, joy and hugs into their lives.

He’s an incredibly affectionate pup and truly deserves a warm and loving home.

Everyone is surprised that it has taken Toro so long to find a family, but now that he’s gained some exposure online, he’ll hopefully soon be spotted by his future forever family.

Somewhere out there, they’re just waiting to lay eyes on this amazing pup and when they do, they’ll never understand how they ever managed to live without him.

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Source: Los Angeles Times (edited)