A video of a dog abandoned before Hurricane Helene has melted hundreds of thousands of hearts on TikTok.
The Chihuahua, Squirrel, currently resides at Mercy Full Project in Tampa, Florida, after being discovered “in the wild” before the Category 4 hurricane swept across the Florida coast. Her spirit remains high, and she hasn’t lost faith in humans, as shown in a viral video.
Racking up over 688,500 views, the video shows Squirrel climbing the metal fence, squealing, and jumping up while barking as a volunteer approaches the enclosure.
The text over the clip states that she has “severe abandonment issues,” which have led to clingy behavior.
TikTok/@mercyfullproject
Once the volunteer strokes her, the text over the video says she is “instantly calm,” followed by, “this is all she wanted,” paired with a clip of the woman holding Squirrel.
Newsweek has contacted the shelter’s spokesperson for comment.
Newsweek previously spoke to Kait Hembree, a dog behaviorist, who explained that separation anxiety and clingy behavior are similar, but they aren’t the same.
A clingy dog wants to be around its owner while they’re together, but they tend not to panic when they’re home alone. A dog with separation anxiety will panic and may showcase destructive behavior, such as chewing, urinating or defecating in the home.
Hembree, the head of training at Boston-based GoodPup, recommends starting by giving your pet an engaging or interactive toy—ideally a food-dispensing one—that will keep them occupied for 10 to 15 minutes.
While your dog is focused on the toy, try moving around the room briefly, always returning to your original spot. Once your dog seems unbothered by your movements, you can gradually increase the challenge by stepping out of the room for a moment before coming back.
So far, the video has pulled on the internet’s heartstrings and received more than 102,000 likes and more than 1,000 comments.
“She is just a baby who wants love,” said one user, and another wrote: “She just wants love; how could anyone walk away from her? Hoping she finds her forever home soon.”
“She is the cutest thing ever,” said a third commenter.
Stories like Squirrel’s are all too familiar, as animals are often left outside, or sometimes even behind, according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). The animal rights organization had provided the following tips ahead of Hurricane Helene:
- If you decide not to evacuate, keep all animals indoors with you. Never leave them tied up, in a pen, or in a crate.
- If evacuation is necessary, plan your destination ahead of time and never leave animals behind or unattended in a vehicle.
- Be prepared: Use secure carriers, leashes, and harnesses. Pack water and food bowls, a favorite toy, a blanket, a towel, and at least a week’s worth of food. Ensure your animals are microchipped and have secure, legible ID tags.
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.
