'I almost hit abandoned dog with my car and what I saw left me in tears'

Going for a drive late a night can come with extra dangers that you don't usually get exposed to during the day. One of the biggest dangers involves animals, particularly on country roads or grassy areas, as you might find a deer or a fox bolting out in front of your vehicle, making you slam on the brakes.

This is what happened to one woman who thought she'd come within inches of hitting a fox with her car, only to find the real animal cowering in front of her vehicle was a small dog. The woman, named Chloe, said she got out of her car after hitting the brakes and found a young puppy "covered in paint", so she scooped him up and put him in her car.

The dog had what appeared to be white paint over its legs, with some spots on its back, and it was visibly frightened as it cowered in the footwell of Chloe's passenger seat while she drove home.

• Comedian sparks outrage after mocking people for buying one item in Asda
• Cadbury's selection boxes sell for just 25p as Brits flock to bargain supermarket's website

In a video on TikTok, she said she planned to take him to the DSPCA (Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) the following morning, but as it was late at night, she had to keep him at home until her local shelter opened.

Once Chloe returned home with the dog, she set up a blanket for him to sleep on and set about making him some chicken and rice for his dinner, as the poor puppy looked starving and needed to eat something bland that wouldn't upset his stomach.

When trying to feed the dog, Chloe ended up in tears. She said that when she stood up, the dog was "scared away from the food".

She couldn't believe anyone would have left the puppy in such a fearful state and could be seen wiping her tears away in the emotional clip. Reassuring the pup, she added: "I'm not going to hurt you, I promise".

The following morning, Chloe drove the dog to her local DSPCA shelter and received some amazing news - the shelter would be able to take him in.

She said: "We've just arrived at the DSPCA and I'm actually so upset. I know it's the best place for him, and I'm so happy that they're taking him, but I'm so devastated. I'm so sad to see him go.

"I bawled as I was handing him in, but the staff here are lovely. They've taken some photos of him to see if anyone owns him. I didn't think I'd be this upset!"

Commenters on the post commended Chloe for taking care of the dog – although many asked when she would be going back to formally adopt the puppy as they'd already seemed to form such a bond.

One person said: "He's so lucky to have found you! How could anyone do that to the pure little baby?" Another added: "Please tell me you're going to adopt him."

A third wrote: "Not all angels have wings. Some have blonde hair and make the best chicken and rice. Thank you."

Others pointed out that the woman's living situation may not be conducive to taking care of a dog full-time, and so the shelter is the best place for the dog to find a loving and suitable forever home.