Rocky Kanaka is known for sitting with shelter dogs to give them love and comfort, this way raising awareness about homeless pets so they can finally find their forever homes. Katie, a scruffy beige Australian shepherd mix, was one of such dogs.

Rocky wanted to cheer her up by offering her a stuffed unicorn to play with, yet the approximately one-year-old pup didn’t seem very excited about it and soon he understood why.

More info: Rocky Kanaka

When a shelter puppy called Katie received her first toy, she didn’t know what to do with it

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

The dog, who seemed to be a senior due to her terrible condition, apparently was just a young pup. She had been found by a good samaritan as a stray with swollen paws and horribly smelly fur, completely devastated.

Therefore, it is probably no surprise that when Rocky first entered the kennel to sit with Katie, she was curled up in a corner and didn’t even want to look at him.

“I don’t know if you guys can see what I’m seeing, but her skin and fur is so bad,” Rocky said at the beginning of the video that he later shared on social media. “I might need to get gloves. There are  a couple different things that can be. The closer I get to her, the worse she looks.”

Slowly and carefully, he finally sat next to the dog and then, miraculously, she started to wag her tail.

Rocky decided to give her some treats for the dog to get a little bit more comfortable with him. It took a few attempts, but finally she started to eat. Then he tried to approach her with a toy, but Katie didn’t seem to know what to do with it and found it overwhelming.

After the vet check, it appeared that the dog only had demodex. Rocky explained that when a dog’s immune system is compromised or they haven’t been well-cared for, these tiny mites can take over and get them in a really bad spot.

“But the good thing is it’s not contagious. I can touch Katie. I can show her love and I don’t care what condition she’s in,” the man said.

Rocky scooped her up and just after a few cuddles, she completely melted in his arms. And that was all that Katie really needed – the look on her face was priceless.

“Probably she never had care her entire life. I love you. I’m sorry, no one should have let you get in this condition,” people could hear Rocky saying in the video.

The puppy was in a terrible, smelly condition, yet it didn’t stop Rocky Kanaka from scooping the sweet girl into his arms

@rockykanakaofficial Watch this Shelter dog react to her first toy 🥹 | Part 3 (final) #dogs #rescuedog #rockykanaka #shelterdog #animalshelter ♬ original sound – rockykanaka

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

Originally from the islands of Hawaii, Rocky Kanaka is known as a pet rescue advocate, pet chef and Emmy-nominated TV host who spreads awareness about pet adoption, fostering and volunteering.

Rocky very soon realized that that simply being present with dogs in shelters—sitting quietly by their side—can be incredibly calming for them.

“Often, these dogs come from tough situations, and they don’t need immediate commands or attention; they need someone who respects their pace and lets them feel safe in their own time,” he explained in an interview with Bored Panda.

“Sitting with them, without expectation, allows them to make the first move, building trust in a way that respects their unique personality and past experiences. It’s a simple idea, but for a scared or anxious dog, that quiet presence can mean everything,” he added.

Asked about what was the most special moment with Katie, he told us that there were couple of them.

“At first, we thought she was a senior dog because of her skin and the way she acted—like she’d been through a lot. But then, to my surprise, I found out she was only about a year old!” the man shared.

“Watching her play with the toys was a blast, but the real highlight was when she let me pick her up for what I call ‘the scoop.’ It was such a rewarding moment—a small gesture that meant so much. It felt like a turning point, where Katie was finally able to relax and start to enjoy the comfort of human touch. That little bit of trust made a huge impact on both of us,” he added.

Rocky often travels the country in order to help the dogs who have been forgotten, abused or just simply abandoned. Later he shares those heartwarming stories on his shows Save Our Shelter on Netflix and Dog’s Day Out on YouTube, as well as on his social media channels. Lately, Rocky has collaborated with many famous brands such as PetSmart, Bissell, Subaru, Furbo, Sundays For Dogs, Audible, Hellofresh and more.

The man is also known for adopting Kobe, a blind cane corso who was born with a congenital heart defect, and for being a foster dad to all the dogs of Flip’s Farm, which was launched on May 7th, 2024 as a place to rehabilitate dogs from the shelter and give them safe haven until they’re ready to be adopted.

All this dog has ever wanted was attention, love and cuddles

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

Image credits: Rocky Kanaka

There are many dogs in shelters that are struggling with getting adopted, but for those with obvious health issues, especially something as visible as a skin condition that makes them look and smell bad, finding a forever home becomes an almost impossible dream.

Yet thanks to such people as Rocky Kanaka, people can get to know more about such situations and that these dogs are starving for affection more than anyone else.

People on the internet were overwhelmed with Katie’s story

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