This is the heartwarming moment an exhausted rescue dog covered in scars gets its first real hug.
Doe-eyed pooch Duncan nuzzles the neck of animal center worker Sarah Rosenberg in an emotional photo.
The neglected pet – which is looking for a home – was taken in by a shelter after being found on a homeowner’s porch in bad shape following Hurricane Irma.
Cuddled up: Duncan, an American pit bull terrier cross, is pictured snuggling up to animal center worker Sarah Rosenberg after being rescued
Kisses: The rescued dog was taken to the shelter in Atlanta after being found on a porch covered in scars
When he was rescued he was covered in scars and open wounds thought to have been caused by attacks by other dogs.
Staff at LifeLine Animal Project discovered he has a huge overbite which means he would have been defenseless and unable to bite back.
But despite going through ‘living hell’, Duncan – an American pit bull terrier cross who is thought to be three or four – was clearly craving affection.
A touching picture captures the moment the gentle pup snuggled rescuer Sarah shortly after he arrived at the shelter in Atlanta, Georgia.
Community engagement manager Sarah, 51, said: ‘He was quietly curled up and when I walked over he looked up and started wagging his tail.
Hard times: The staff believe Duncan got his wounds from attacks by other dogs
Safe now: Sarah, 51, claims that the pooch just ‘melted’ in her arms when she hugged him
Some love: Sarah believes that the pooch had been through so much that ‘not be afraid that something would happen must have been a relief’
‘We opened the kennel he sort of oozed out. I went to give him a hug and he melted into my arms.
‘He was so loving. He didn’t want to go anywhere or be fed, he just wanted to feel safe. I held him for a very long time.’
She added: ‘I feel like he has been on a journey and whatever he had seen he was tired from it.
‘To be somewhere he could just lie down and sleep and not be afraid that something would happen must have been a relief.
‘He just wanted to feel safe and have somebody to show him love – and give him a cuddle.’
Lifted up: After his arrival, the staff took Duncan out into the sunshine to cuddle some more
Looking up: The staff are now looking for a forever home for the pooch now that he is recovering from his injuries
Happier days: The staff say that Duncan is ‘wonderful with humans’ and will make his future owners very happy
After the tender interaction, Sarah and her colleague took Duncan outside in the sunshine and snuggled him some more.
He has remained in their care since being taken in by the shelter last week, where he is being fed, loved and nursed back to health.
Now staff are trying to find him a home.
Sarah added: ‘He was in pretty rough shape when we found him but now his wounds are healing and he is building up his strength.
‘He is a beautiful dog who is wonderful with humans. He has been through so much suffering but still has so much saved-up love to share.
‘The humans who give him a forever home are in for the love of a lifetime.’