A breeding dog who spent most of his life in a puppy mill is finally learning what it means to be loved, and his owner has shared an important message for those who used him.
Cinnamon, the 7-year-old pomeranian, spent almost six years in a puppy mill before being rescued in 2024. Until last year, he was used solely for profit and confined to a cage. But his life changed when Maria Coellar fostered him, and within a month, she knew that Cinnamon would be her second foster failure.
After years of trauma and neglect, Coellar, of Chicago, Illinois, told Newsweek that she was able to provide Cinnamon with his “first glimpse of the outside world.” She’s shown him patience, kindness, and love for once in his life.
When Cinnamon arrived in her care, his fur was matted and was “covered in his own feces and urine.” Coellar had to give him four baths, and even that couldn’t get rid of the smell.
“Given the state of his coat, I scheduled a grooming appointment the next morning. They had no choice but to shave him completely,” Coellar said. “Cinnamon has clearly suffered years of neglect. He has luxating patellas in both rear legs, likely due to spending his life confined to a cage without exercise.”
Understandably, Cinnamon was incredibly nervous during his first night in his new home, but Coellar could already see improvements the next morning. She sensed an instant bond between Cinnamon and her dog Munchkin, who had also been rescued from a puppy mill.
They didn’t come from the same place, but Coellar said their connection “was undeniable.”
“I truly believe I was meant to be his foster because he was always meant to be part of our family. As I watched their bond deepen, I realized I could never separate them,” she said.
Coellar also helped Cinnamon experience many of his “firsts,” including walking on grass, lying on a bed, and playing with a toy. These experiences have been positive not just for Cinnamon but also for his owner, who said that witnessing those moments has been “one of the greatest joys” of her life.
“It’s truly an honor to witness Cinnamon’s progress. Being the first person he trusted enough to sit beside, or even let touch him, was the most rewarding feeling in the world. We still have a long way to go as there’s a lot of trauma to work through. But every day, he takes steps toward learning how to be a dog and enjoy this second chance at life,” Coellar told Newsweek.
As Cinnamon’s confidence continues to grow, Coellar is proud and grateful to have helped him “get his spark back.”
Coellar regularly shares clips of Munchkin and Cinnamon on their TikTok account (@momentswithmunchkin). She recently posted a video with a stern message for the people who used Cinnamon for breeding. The footage relives the last year of Cinnamon’s life.
In just a matter of days, the clip has gone viral with over 492,200 views and more than 95,200 likes at the time of writing. Indeed, Coellar has been overwhelmed by the support shown towards her rescue pup and hopes it will inspire others to stop inhumane breeding mills.
“We just celebrated Cinnamon’s first ‘adoptaversary,’ and while his journey isn’t over, his transformation is nothing short of incredible,” Coellar said. “Cinnamon’s resilience and trust remind me that healing is possible, no matter how deep the trauma.
She continued: “It’s heartwarming to hear from others who have rescued dogs from similar situations. I hope his story encourages others to look beyond the surface of the pet industry and shed light on the harsh reality of the cute puppies on sale.”
The viral clip has amassed over 1,500 comments on TikTok so far, and many were heartbroken to see what Cinnamon had previously gone through.
One comment reads: “Thank you for saving this sweet baby.”
“Thank you for rescuing this poor baby and giving them the life they’ve dreamed of!” another comment reads.
“What a difference LOVE can make. Thank you,” a TikTok user wrote.
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