Moment Rescue Dog Finally Understands Playing After 2 Years Melts Hearts – ryan

A rescue dog living with a family for over two years took them by surprise when she finally showed off her playful side.

A dog named Nova previously lived with a family who used her to breed more puppies. But after eight years in that lifestyle and failing health, the family posted her for sale on Facebook. Kelsey McNay and her family stepped in and rescued her for $500.

They showed Nova that homes can be filled with love and kindness. But despite the patience with Nova, the rescue dog never showed a playful side.

“In our two years with her, she had always presented a timid and mild personality,” McNay told Newsweek via TikTok.

That changed recently when Nova finally let loose and was caught playing with McNay’s children in a March 20 TikTok video posted to the account @kelseyinthekitchen. It was the first time any of the McNays saw Nova act in this manner.

She ran from one room to the next again and again with a giant smile and her tail wagging. Her sporadic movements left McNay’s children cracking up, with one falling to her knees from laughing so hard. Nova looked interested in the toy bone, briefly going after it when it was thrown, but she would pause, unsure of what to do with all her energy.

At one point, you could hear McNay wonder where this energy came from and what she was doing. For being at least 10 years old and living with them for two years, she previously never had a case of the zoomies.

“Honestly, I was shocked!” McNay said. “We were thrilled to see her have some fun and act like a ‘real’ dog.”

The TikTok video reached over 530,100 views, 115,300 likes and 374 comments as of Wednesday. People’s hearts melted over Nova’s happiness and the kids’ laughter.

“You helped her move past her trauma, and she’s learning her life all over again, and feels safe to be her. This is beautiful,” said one viewer.

Another commented: “You know the kids laughing made her feel even better about finally truly playing!!!”

A third person added: “That’s a core memory for all three of them.”

Hopeful the energy will continue, someone wrote: “She is gonna be silly all the time now chasing after those sweet giggles from her kiddos.”

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