When 10-year-old rescue dog Miley was picked up by her foster caregivers, the shelter paperwork that came with her made a surprising claim: she wasn’t interested in toys.
“Miley is 10 years old, and we don’t know her exact breed but assume Chihuahua mix,” her foster mom, Tate Mitchell told Newsweek. “The initial notes from the shelter indicated she had no interest in toys based on their evaluation.”
However, when Miley arrived home with Mitchell and her fiancee, Kate Heinrich, they quickly learned that the note couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Miley was pulled from the city shelter with help from Muddy Paws Rescue after being surrendered when her owner was hospitalized. But, despite the shelter’s assessment, Miley wasted no time proving that she loves to play.
@tatekmitchell/TikTok
“She showed interest in toys the first day she was with us but didn’t go head over heels until days later,” Mitchell said.
In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.
Fostering not only helps to alleviate overcrowding in animal shelters, but also increases a dog’s chances of being adopted. When canines are placed in a nurturing environment, they can learn essential socialization skills and basic commands, making them more appealing to potential adopters. While foster caregivers can also provide more in-depth information to potential adopters about the animal’s personality and behavior, helping match them better with the right family.
In a now-viral video on TikTok, Mitchell shared footage of Miley enthusiastically playing fetch and exploring a variety of toys. In the clip, she said: “When we got Miley’s behavior notes from the shelter they said she had no interest in toys… She would beg to differ!”
“This is why we foster,” Mitchell said. “Giving the chance for dogs to leave the shelter allows their true personalities to shine through in a safe, calm, loving environment.”
With more than 287,000 views on TikTok, people reacted to the adorable footage of Miley enjoying playtime.
“She’s looking so alert and engaged and happy!” wrote one user, while another added, “Exactly why fosters are so important!”
Though Miley is still on her weight-loss journey and awaiting a vet evaluation, her foster family remains hopeful about her future. They are excited to see Miley continue to thrive—and, eventually, find her forever home.
“We’re hopeful we can get her to a healthy place and get her adopted,” Mitchell said.
But, for now, Miley’s days are filled with the warmth of a home that understands her, and, of course, plenty of toys.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
