Four years ago, Claudia Papp opened her home to Chapo, a traumatized dog saved from abuse and pulled from a shelter’s euthanasia list by Diamonds in the Ruff Animal Rescue. The pit bull arrived malnourished, infested with fleas and worms, and bearing fractured teeth—but his emotional wounds ran deeper.
“He stood at the back door, staring at it the entire first night,” Papp told The Dodo. “He probably didn’t even walk toward me for at least five days.”
Despite fostering 47 dogs before Chapo, Papp couldn’t part with him. His gentle demeanor won her over, making him her first “foster fail.” But even after five months in her care, Chapo remained too fearful to venture outside—until an unexpected ally arrived: a foster kitten named Cecily.
A Kitten’s Healing Influence
Cecily’s playful energy drew Chapo in, while his calm presence put the kitten at ease. Within two weeks of her arrival, Chapo did the unthinkable: he walked into the backyard on his own.
“It was something about her that gave him confidence he’d never had—probably in his entire life,” Papp said.
Encouraged, Papp began fostering more kittens. Each new feline friend helped Chapo shed his anxiety. He mimicked their behaviors—rolling onto his back when they did, stretching alongside them—and even nurtured sick fosters, licking their faces and curling up beside them.
“He has this nurturing ability I’ll never understand, given his past,” Papp remarked.
A New Chapter
Now, Chapo has spent more years in Papp’s loving home than in his former life of neglect. Once too scared to step outside, he’s become a confident, affectionate companion—all thanks to the kittens who taught him to trust.
“He’s reached a level of progress I never thought possible,” Papp said. “They healed him as much as he healed them.”
For updates on Chapo and his foster journey, follow Papp on TikTok.
Related topics:
