People are drawn to dogs for some reason, and they just want to hug them. They have some of the cutest faces, with large, inquisitive eyes that occasionally give them a cartoonish appearance. However, not every dog has a human companion who wants to cuddle up with them on a chilly night; some dogs are left alone or neglected. That’s where animal shelters come in, and they put in a lot of effort to find these animals loving homes and handle any medical needs.

Animal shelters depend on volunteers to fill in the gaps that staff members might not have time for. Rocky Kanaka has been giving of his time to sit with dogs and offer consolation. He recently shared a video on social media showing a severely malnourished Vizsla mix trying to squeeze himself into the kennel’s corner.

Right away, Kanaka wanted to assist him in getting used to his new surroundings so he could eat and eventually be adopted. The dog had actually rubbed his nose raw out of fear at his new location, but when Kanaka arrived, everything changed.

With the dog in tow, the volunteer cautiously made his way inside the kennel, hunching down on his knees in case he needed to escape. However, the dog stayed curled into a tiny ball and avoided making eye contact in an attempt to practically become invisible. This anxious dog looked like it would take a long time to warm up.

He soon receives an offer of a treat. Achievement! After accepting the treat, the brown dog’s body begins to gradually relax and, after a few minutes, he sits down next to Kanaka for cuddles. This little guy clearly just needed some love, as evidenced by the incredible transformation you see in the first few minutes of the video.

“When he began to wave his tail, it was very adorable. His entire attitude seemed to have changed, and you could tell he was content. Merely a few sympathic words and some focus. All animals require is that. Apart from food, that is. Hahahaha,” a commenter says.

“That instant when he begins to sense that he is safe. That slow wag of the tail, the ears standing up, the eyes brightening. Another writes, “To love and respect an animal, you don’t have to be an expert.

“After that initial treatment, he completely changed in manner. He changed his opinion of you from not trusting to maybe being kind and feeling less anxious. Someone exclaims, “That was really amazing to see.”

All this scared little dog needed was a human connection—someone to take the time to sit with him and reassure him that everything was okay. The dog even welcomed people who came to visit him after watching the video, once he was certain the shelter was a safe place.

“I visited ‘Bear’ at the shelter today! The news that he appears to be happy and full of energy would make everyone very happy! He adores his little red squeaky bone toy. Eager for affection, he rubbed his head on my arms and legs and licked my hand right away. What a cutie,” someone comments.

The dog, now known as Shadow Moon, was adopted and is currently enjoying the best life possible with his new human father and husky brother because of Kanaka’s kind gesture. On his Instagram page, Shadow Moon is sharing his journey with you.