On Tuesday, December 19, a dog lover shared a very sweet video about a recent life he changed for the better. In the clip, he introduces viewers to an adorable Pit Bull he found abandoned on the side of the road.

The tenderness, care, and kindness the rescuer is showing the pup is truly heartwarming and reminds us that there are still good Samaritans in the world. We know this sweet dog appreciates the food and gentle pets he was receiving, that’s for sure!

@thebrandonleecookFound this dog 🐶 on the side of the road, he looked hungry so I took him to chicfila 🥹 and to the guilford county animal shelter to get checked out! Seems very sweet ah man what do I do! I think hes a #pitbull 🐾 #pitbullsoftiktok #dogsoftiktok #dog #doglover #doggo #dogdad @The Dodo #storytime #pitbulldogs

♬ original sound – Brandon Lee Cook

He is too cute! This pup, who has since been named Hot Chocolate With Marshmallows, was treated to a delicious meal of Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets and waffle fries. Afterwards, his new friend took him to the animal shelter, where the pup was held for a few days to give someone a chance to claim him as their own dog and receive medical attention from the staff.

Related: Tiny Dog’s Epic Drive-Thru Disappointment Is Just So Relatable

In a follow-up video, this good Samaritan said that Hot Cocoa has found his forever family already! While he was on his way to visit the pup in the shelter, he found out that a family adopted the pup, making his stay at the shelter short-lived. We couldn’t be happier for him!

How to help shelter dogs if you can’t adopt

Unfortunately, Hot Cocoa is merely one of many dogs that have spent at least a portion of their life at an animal shelter. While dogs some are lucky to only be there a short time, others find their stay at the shelter dragging on for months and sometimes even years.

Dog lovers will feel a compulsion to adopt as many shelter dogs as possible to save them from having to live at the shelter. However, most people cannot adopt a pet on a  whim, so here are a few ways someone can help shelter dogs without adopting:

  1. Volunteer: Shelters are always in need of volunteers to assist with some of the mundane tasks, such as walking dogs, cleaning kennels, and more. By signing up to volunteer at your local shelter, you can help shelter staff devote more time to finding wonderful homes for their residents while getting to spend quality time with some incredible pups!
  2. Donate: Many shelters must rely on donations in order to keep their residents fed, warm, and happy. Not only do shelters gladly accept monetary donations, but many of these organizations have a list of products and items they need restocked, such as dog food, blankets, cleaning supplies, and more. Anything that you can donate will always be put to good use at an animal shelter!
  3. Foster a dog: Fostering is one of the best ways you can help a shelter dog. Not only does this provide a much needed break from the stresses of shelter living, but it also helps dogs come out of their shell a bit to find their forever family. Plus, it frees more space at the shelter to save even more dogs. Everyone wins when you foster a dog!

There’s no doubt that Hot Cocoa loves and appreciates his kind rescuer tremendously. Hopefully, the two have a chance in the future to see each other again!

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