Woman Finds Puppy ‘Dumped’ Outside House—Knows Just What To Do – ryan

A woman dedicated 10 hours trying to help a dumped puppy—melting hearts across the internet.

When a scared puppy wandered into her garden, Zaina Ateyea (@dontmesswithz) knew she couldn’t just look the other way—even if her dad told her not to bring the dog home.

Ateyea documented the effort to win over the frightened pup in a series of heartfelt clips. After about 10 hours of gentle coaxing, the dog—later named Muffin—was finally safe in a neighbor’s backyard. The touching journey quickly gained traction online, with the original video receiving 2.5 million views and 227,400 likes.

“Hi, baby girl. Look at your sweet tail, muffin girl. Come here, baby. Oh, pretty girl, pretty girl. This is the closest she’s been to the food,” Ateyea said in one clip, her voice soft and encouraging as she sat on the grass with food and water nearby.

In the video, Ateyea explained: “My dad went to go take my dogs for a walk and looked at me, was like, whatever you do, do not take her home. And I said, you’re the one who mentioned her to me and told me to come help.”

Ateyea worked tirelessly with the help of her neighbor who brought ham out to tempt her.

Even when a moved trash can spooked the pup and sent her fleeing, Ateyea didn’t give up.

“I told my dad, I said, ‘You don’t know how lucky you are that I live with you, because if I didn’t live with you, that dog would be in my bed right now cuddling.’”

Eventually, the dog—Muffin—got so close they were sitting just an arm’s length apart.

As Muffin settled in, Ateyea shared updates: She took the pup to the pet store, asked for recommendations for calming chews, and spoke about their growing bond.

“She is not chipped, a neighbor has a chip reader and it was not found,” Ateyea said. “She is the sweetest dog and is great with kids and other dogs.”

Though Muffin cannot be a permanent addition to the family—they already have a full house of pets—Ateyea is working to find her a forever home.

In the comments, TikTokers were moved by the story.

“Dad: don’t bring her home
You: Her name is Muffin,” one viewer joked.

“You guys side eyeing each other around the tree is killing me. She’s adorable,” said another.

“Lol why do dads alert us to stray animals and then pretend they’re not allowed to come home,” added a third.

Ateyea replied: “No literally at hour 3 he was like ‘I told you to come check on her not move in with her’”

Shelter workers chimed in with advice, praising her approach.

“You’re doing great by not chasing her! When we catch fearful strays, rotisserie chicken is a HUGE draw. Have a slip lead ready to slip over her head if you’re able to get her to eat close to you.”

Others shared disbelief that anyone could leave a dog behind.

“I genuinely cannot understand how anyone can just dump their fur baby,” wrote one user.

So far, the dog lover has raised $4,910 for her vet and rehoming costs.

What To Do If You Find Stray Dog

According to Dogs Trust, if you find a stray dog:

• Check for identification (collar or tag).
• Take the dog to a vet or shelter to scan for a microchip.
• Keep the dog safe and away from other pets until authorities arrive.

Newsweek reached out to Zaina Ateyea for comment via TikTok. We could not verify the details of the case.

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