You might expect a dog and a horse meeting for the first time to involve a cautious stare, a curious sniff, or maybe a wagging tail. But when a 4-year-old rescue dog named Petal was introduced to Simon, a 3-year-old horse, things took an unexpected turn.
Instead of a gentle greeting, Simon leaned in and gave Petal’s head a nibble. Fortunately, the encounter was all in good fun and no animals were harmed in the making of the TikTok clip shared to @boochaces. So far, the August 15 video has already amassed over 1.1 million views and more than 191,700 likes.
Newsweek spoke to Caitlin Cimini, founder of the New Jersey-based sanctuary Rancho Relaxo, who was holding Petal during the viral moment.
“Petal is so sweet, quiet and gentle,” she said. “She is used to the chaos of a hoarding situation.”
Petal’s story is one of resilience. The Animal Humane Society estimates that up to 250,000 animals per year are victims of hoarding.
Newsweek spoke to Justine Wilkinson, an environmental health officer at Northumbria University in England, who studies the psychological roots of animal hoarding.
Wilkinson said: “People who hoard animals often report living in a chaotic domestic environment during childhood; childhood problems with caregivers, e.g., unstable, neglectful, abusive, absent, or inconsistent; and stressful life events in child and adulthood.
“They also report relying on animals during childhood, suggesting provision as alternative attachment figures and providing security without fear of rejection.”
The clip features not just Simon, but also Moose—the first horse who approaches Petal. The 10-year-old black horse goes in for what sanctuary owner Cimini described as an “abrasive” sniff, while Simon follows with his now-infamous nibble.
“He is still so curious as he is young,” Cimini said.
Both horses were rescued from slaughter and have since thrived at Rancho Relaxo.
“Simon is a very sociable horse,” Cimini said. “He was rescued from slaughter two years ago, and you would never know he came from facing that terrible fate. He is a happy, affectionate horse.
“Moose was originally rescued from slaughter by a rescue that ended up failing the animals under their care—which is when we stepped in. So, he was saved twice,” Cimini added.
TikTok Reacts
As expected, TikTok users had plenty to say about the moment that is described as an “unforgettable experience,” according to the on-screen text.
“Do you wanna meet a horse for the first time? Dog: *entire life flashes past it*” joked one commenter, racking up more than 12,000 likes.
Another wrote: “Simon asking is this a sweet treat.”
A third posted: “That poor dog wondering if life on streets is better.”
The post Rescue Dog Meets Rescue Horse for First Time, Takes Unexpected Turn appeared first on Newsweek.
