Woman Overcomes Fear Of Dogs By Adopting Rescue Who Is Afraid of People.

Love is an incredibly healing force, especially when it comes to fear.

Teresa Hwang of Oakville, Canada, has been afraid of dogs ever since she was bitten at 10, then again at 20. She spent most of her life avoiding man’s best friend and balking at the idea of ever sharing her home with a dog. Then she met Boo.

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Teresa’s boyfriend has been bringing up adoption for years, but it wasn’t until recently that she decided to take a chance. She didn’t want to keep living in fear. So the two did some online research and ended up visiting Niagara Dog Rescue, where they met a spotted pup named Patches. It didn’t take long for Teresa to realize he was more anxious than she was! But even so, he greeted her with a lick.

“His foster mom gave me a surprised look and replied, ‘Wow. That’s really weird, he doesn’t approach people. I guess he’s picked you,'” Teresa told Bored Panda. “If he took a leap to initiate a connection, then I knew it was a sign. I had to take him home.”

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Both Teresa and Patches, now named Boo, had to do a lot of adjusting. Boo was afraid of many things, including eating in front of his new family, playing with toys, and unfamiliar noises. But Teresa slowly built trust with him, sticking to regular routines and giving him space as needed.

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Soon, she realized, he didn’t scare her at all! And Boo was finally starting to come out of his shell.

“With each milestone I witnessed, I cried happy tears because it was as if Boo was a puppy again and was learning ‘how to dog,'” Teresa recalled. “He’s learned a lot and I am so proud of him.”

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And Boo isn’t the only one making progress.

“Seeing Boo heal and grow has changed the way I see myself. Just as with my own children, taking care of Boo has taught me patience and unconditional love,”  Teresa said.

“When people praise me for saving his life saying that I rescued him, I always have the same response, ‘Boo rescued me right back’. We overcame our fears together. We healed each other. We showed that love is greater than fear.”

teresa and boo
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What a beautiful bond. Clearly, these two were meant to be together! They’re both living proof that love always conquers fear.

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