Shelter Dog Comforts Anxious Teen, And She Adopts Him

A kind-hearted individual in Charleston, Virginia saw a cute bloodhound mix puppy running along a street, abandoned to his destiny. The animal was picked up and sent to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association right away so that it could receive the care it need.

The dog was originally given the name Picasso by the rescue center staff in honor of the well-known painter, but due to a typing error, his name appeared as “Picasso” in the shelter’s computer system. The cute dog was not microchipped, was not wearing a collar, and no one came to pick him up.

Picasso was immediately recognized by everyone at the shelter as a very loving and charming puppy who deserved to go to the greatest possible home.

The Humane Association quickly realized that walking its adoptable dogs in a festive municipal parade would be a good way to expose them to the community.

Picasso had been waiting to be adopted for 19 days when shelter volunteer Kim Vigneau strolled alongside him. She was keen to get her partner’s attention that evening and was confident that day would transform Picasso’s life.

Kim stated to The Dodo:

It was so sweet, That evening, I set out to find him a home.

In reality, Picasso interacted with someone during the march in a way that touched the hearts of everyone in the vicinity. Kim recounts that they passed an adolescent girl who was sitting on the pavement and appeared to be distressed as they made their way through the procession. Picasso reached out as soon as she realized she needed assistance.

Abigail Ellis, 16, has postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and struggles with challenging anxiety episodes that may sometimes be extremely severe. Picasso hurried to soothe her when he realized something was wrong.

The girl’s mother, Melissa Smoot, remembers:

“Abby was falling forward as her head was resting on her legs. The dog was able to push her back by getting her body beneath her. She then started to pivot. All she could think was that if that dog hadn’t been there, Abby would have been lying face down on the ground.”