Neglected Golden Retriever Finally Reaches Freedom-and He Brought a Friend
Rescue dogs will all come with a few quirks, even if they came from loving homes that simply could no longer care for them. Not every shelter dog goes through trauma, but many do, and it's those dogs who might have the "strangest" quirks of all.
For one neglected Golden Retriever, his life didn't start out easy at all. He was kept outside, in a shed, with nothing but an empty bowl to play with. Eventually, they let him go... But now that he's in his forever home, thriving, there's still a strange friend along for the ride:
@jusazimfarms Besides food aggression… he's the best boy #dogrescue
original sound - janmegr - janmegr
The Just As I Am Farm is the perfect place for this sweet boy to have ended up. They have lots of land, other animals for him to play with, and most importantly, they truly love him just as he is. According to his new mom, he spent the first 8 years of his life locked in a kennel, with nothing but an empty food bowl for company.
He refused to let it get him down, however; he made sure to play with that bowl to its fullest potential. It was his only toy, and now that he's in his loving forever home, it's still his favorite. Someone in the comments said, "Now he and his bucket have freedom!" Great, I'm crying.
Related: Abandoned Golden Retriever's Happy Hops After Rescue Are Pure Joy
This is the only video they've posted about this precious boy, but he's not the only rescue animal on the farm. There is also a massive flock of chickens who come racing to greet her the moment she gets home:
@jusazimfarms But they love me…..#chicken#chickensoftiktok
original sound - Hayu
These chickens speak volumes. They really show how much care they receive, and they prove that this is the perfect place to rehabilitate the rescued Golden boy!
Rescue Dogs Can Pick Strange Toys
This Golden Retriever choosing an empty bowl to play with is a little silly, but it makes perfect sense. It's the only toy he knows, so of course it's the one he feels the most comfortable with.
Rescue dogs have had different levels of access to toys throughout their lives. Some have come from loving homes with lots of toys, while others have literally never seen a toy before in their lives. If you're unsure what kind of toy your rescue dog prefers, try:
- Asking the shelter for any information that might give you clues.
- Researching the breed to see if there's a type of toy they tend to prefer.
- Buying a couple of different ones and letting the dog choose.
If they seem timid, you could always start with stuffed toys that don't have squeakers. You can work your way up from there. Clearly, they'll let you know which ones they like!
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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM.