4 days ago
Rescue Dog Left Home Alone—Woman Left Heartbroken by Note From Neighbor
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A woman has revealed the heartbreaking note she received from her neighbors after adopting a dog who spent 7 years in a puppy mill.
Emily Hanson, 38, initially started fostering Otto, the Shih-tzu in June 2024. He was estimated to be around 7 years old, and it's likely that he'd spent his entire life in a cage.
There was no denying that the life he had to endure took its toll on Otto. Hanson told Newsweek that he was "so anxious that he didn't sleep" for the first 24 hours that she had him. Even when he did manage to rest, he would sleep in "very small increments" because he just couldn't settle.
It took Otto several weeks to develop a proper sleep schedule, and he's still afraid of certain things (plates and bowls to name a few). Nonetheless, he's come an awful long way, and he was officially adopted by Hanson in July 2024.
"I'm so proud of him and the progress he's made," Hanson, of Columbus, Ohio, said. "He's come such a long way. His Shih-tzu personality shines now, and he learned to go down steps and go in the grass."
Otto the rescue dog, and the note Hanson received from her neighbors.
Otto the rescue dog, and the note Hanson received from her neighbors.
@miltonandotto / TikTok
Shortly after adopting Otto, Hanson received a handwritten letter from her neighbors saying that the dog "has been pretty loud" and "seems to be anxious" whenever she's gone.
The note continued: "Wanted to make sure you knew about it, and get your pup feeling okay and comfortable when you're gone from the apartment. Thanks, your neighbors."
As soon as she read the letter, Hanson "felt terrible" for Otto and her neighbors too.
She has a pet cam in her apartment, so she was aware that Otto had separation anxiety, but she had hoped that it didn't bother her neighbors.
Hanson said: "I lived in a building with 9 other units, so the noise was likely disruptive. I had been taking him everywhere I could. I pretty much knew every dog friendly bar and restaurant in the Columbus area. And though I only worked in the office two days a week, he was not welcome at a corporate office. So, I guess I hoped the neighbors wouldn't be home during that time."
Upon reading the letter, Hanson knew she needed to make it up to her neighbors. She bought Starbucks gift cards for everyone on her floor and the person who lives directly beneath her apartment.
She also wrote notes for them to explain Otto's backstory, in which she told them he'd been rescued from a puppy mill "where he was kept in a cage for 7 years." She thanked them for their patience and understanding, and said she was actively working on his separation anxiety.
The note Hanson wrote for her neighbors to apologize and explain.
The note Hanson wrote for her neighbors to apologize and explain.
@miltonandotto / TikTok
While she isn't certain which neighbor wrote the letter, Hanson has spoken directly to some of the people in her building and they were very understanding.
It's been 12 months since she received that letter, and Otto has made great strides in that time. For the most part, he doesn't bark or whine when Hanson leaves now. Whenever she checks the pet cam, he's usually asleep with his blind rescue brother named Milton.
"He does get sad when I leave, but he is doing so well. He was not left alone for more than 30 minutes to an hour after that note. He either went to a friend's who was home, or a dog sitter. Little by little, I tried various ways to leave him, and one day, miraculously, there was no barking, crying or scratching. And it just got better from there," Hanson continued.
Indeed, Hanson told Newsweek that Milton "appreciates the peace" now too as they can both get their beauty sleep.
The proud owner often documents the lives of her rescue dogs on their dedicated TikTok account (@miltonandotto), and in July she shared a post about the note her neighbors wrote. The post has melted hearts in a matter of days, leading to more than 38,200 views and over 3,200 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
The online response has been incredibly uplifting, as Hanson hopes to show that rescue dogs are capable of thriving if they're given patience and love.
"Everyone, for the most part, is supportive and proud of Otto for being such a champ. I hope we are helping to educate people on the horrors of puppy mills but also the strength and resilience of dogs. It has been one of the greatest joys of my life to watch Otto thrive," Hanson said.
Otto's story has generated over 100 comments on TikTok, as internet users praised the progress he's made so far.
One comment reads: "such a brave little soul!"
Another TikTok user wrote: "That was such a sweet and thoughtful note they left, glad he's doing better."
Another person responded: "Beautiful story and ending."
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