The fateful meeting between a girl who is afraid of dogs and a dog who is shy and afraid of people. How did they find each other?

Theresa Hwang is 51 years old and works as a teacher. It’s quite remarkable because throughout her life, she had a profound fear of dogs. This fear had a clear explanation. When Theresa was ten years old, she was bitten by dogs. The same unfortunate incident occurred when she was twenty. So, her enduring phobia is understandable.

However, despite her fear, Hwang managed to overcome it and adopted a little puppy named Boo. Interestingly, the dog had a similar problem but in a “mirror” fashion – he was afraid of humans. Together, the woman and the dog demonstrated to the world that love can conquer fear.

Hwang shared with Bored Panda, an online magazine, that she can get along with friendly and well-behaved dogs. Her fear arises when a dog barks, growls, or even just runs around playfully.

The idea of getting a four-legged companion came to her two years ago when she took care of her sister’s pet. From then on, Theresa began searching for a dog of her own, a process that took quite a while. Finally, she found a little pup named Patch, whom she renamed Boo.

Boo, the dog, was afraid of all humans. When Theresa started looking for a dog, she read in the description that Boo could get along well with other dogs but wouldn’t be suitable for a home with children or lots of noisy activities.

When Theresa went to the shelter to bring Boo home, he became very anxious and hid behind the staff member who had brought him out for the meeting. However, he cautiously emerged and approached Theresa. But as soon as Hwang looked at him, Boo ran away and hid again.

The shelter staff mentioned that Boo had never approached people before. They thought that Boo had chosen Theresa as his preferred human. With that, Boo went to live with Theresa. However, she soon realized that Boo was actually more afraid of her than she was of him.

Hwang shared their journey on TikTok, where she explained the development of their relationship. At first, Boo was nervous and constantly tried to hide, especially if someone touched him. But over time, he began to trust Theresa.

When the timid dog felt completely safe, he would wag his tail enthusiastically. He often stayed close to Theresa. He stopped hiding when eating from his bowl. And one day, Boo even licked Theresa’s nose.

The next stage involved Boo starting to play and even smiling. The dog was content and had a smile on his face.

By the way, Boo isn’t the type of dog that immediately jumps on people or begs for attention from guests. What matters most to Boo is to feel no threat, and when he feels safe, he is truly happy.

It was Boo who proved to Theresa that love is stronger than fear.