5 min read Dog Found On Side Of Road Immediately Snuggles Her Rescuer “It's like relief just hit her.”

Kris Lenker and her wife were driving home from work last week when they spotted something on the road ahead. They assumed, being out in the country, that the small, tan animal was a baby deer — but as they got closer, they realized their mistake. “We slowed down and realized that it was a dog,” Lenker told The Dodo. Lenker hopped out of the car and called to the dog, but the nervous pup took off down a pathway. Lenker followed close behind, tempted to turn around. “I couldn't see her anymore and we almost left,” Lenker said. “I just had a feeling, though.”

Kris Lenker

Lenker found the dog hiding behind a fence, and after a few minutes of gentle pets, the nervous dog decided to take a chance. “She wrapped her front paws around my neck and let me carry her back to the car,” Lenker said. “She was absolutely terrified, but I could tell she trusted me ... It just felt like we were brought together for a reason.” Shortly after the dog entered the car, her demeanor changed. It was as if she knew she was finally safe. “I just pet her and told her I had her,” Lenker said. “That is when she just collapsed into a ball in my lap. It's like relief just hit her. She rode the rest of the way home in my lap like that.”

Kris Lenker

While she decompresses and regains her strength, the dog, whom the couple has named Reba, is hanging out in a warm bathroom. When she's up to it, she'll get to meet her new dog siblings, who will show her the rules of the house. And Reba is still just as affectionate as the first day they found her: “Belly rubs are her favorite, and she doesn't hesitate to ask for them!” Lenker said. “She rolls on her back and paws at us until we give in.”

Kris Lenker

Reba was initially resistant to being rescued, but now she doesn’t want to leave — even to go outside for potty training. She demands that her mom carries her outside and back in every time. “I think she is still afraid she will be left out there,” Lenker said.

Kris Lenker