No one knew exactly why Big Mac was so nervous around new people or why he had so much trouble adapting to the shelter environment at McKamey Animal Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
But it could be safe to assume that a dog abandoned by his family was just plain old brokenhearted.
“We’re not really sure what his living environment was like prior to coming to us, but it was very apparent that he didn’t trust everyone right away,” Lauren Mann, advancement manager at the shelter, told The Dodo.
Big Mac was surrendered to the shelter by parents who no longer had time for him.
Plus, they were moving.
Making time for the sweet dog and making him a part of their new home wasn’t on their priority list.
So, he was left alone with some random strangers that he didn’t trust.
Treats helped and so did outdoor time, but it wasn’t enough to melt Big Mac’s hardened heart.
“He did warm up with treats and when he was out of the kennel and in the play yard,” Mann said.
Big Mac ended up as the shelter’s long resident where lived for 260 days.
Then one day, one of those strangers he was stuck with decided to take him into her own home as a foster.
It didn’t take long for that shelter volunteer to fall in love with Big Mac once she realized how she reacted to being in a safe, loving, home.
“When my coworker took him in to foster, she said the first night he slept, like, 12 hours straight, and just really opened up and wanted to play with her other dog and even wanted to play with the cats,” Mann said. “[He] really made a 180 and was a great dog overall.”
That volunteer decided she would make him a permanent family member.
Especially since one of her other dogs decided to show him the ropes.
“Her resident dog took him under his wing, and when they were out for a walk and he’d get a little scared, her dog would be like, ‘No, it’s OK,’” Mann said.
“And he’d show him that it was OK and people could be trusted.”
Mac’s finding a forever home was definitely something to be celebrated.
So, the shelter decided to give him a big send-off. All of the shelter workers lined up as Big Mac made his final entrance from the shelter.
They all stood and clapped as he made his way out of the shelter.
“This brindle boy was with us at MAC for far too long, and although we will miss him, we know he will be well taken care of and absolutely spoiled in his new furever home,” the shelter wrote on their Facebook page.
A video was even taken of Big Mac’s goodbye which was viewed more than 3.4 million times.
“His new mom was surprised that he handled it so well, which shows that he’s doing a lot better with stranger danger,” Mann said. “He was just ready to go … he didn’t really care about treats or pets or anything. He was just ready to go home.”
Watch Big Mac’s send-off in the video below!
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