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By Rachael O'Connor
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An animal rescue introduced their newest resident in a unique way, describing the dog as a "gremlin with violent intent"—and, in doing so, piqued the interest of thousands.
All About Animals Rescue, based in Macon in Georgia, recently saved a dog from a kill shelter, and announced her arrival by declaring: "EMERGENCY ALERT: WE HAVE RESCUED A GREMLIN WITH VIOLENT INTENT."
In a post to the rescue's Facebook page on November 15, a staff member introduced followers to its newest resident, Cruella, by explaining she has some behavioral issues, including biting, due to neglect in her past.
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But. while the story is tragic, the staffer put a humorous spin on things to let everyone know just how they were planning to help the 13-month-old dog.
"She didn’t just arrive spicy—she arrived PREHEATED TO 450° and ready to baste us like a Thanksgiving turkey," the staff member wrote, adding she is "currently accepting finger donations for her holiday feast. Volunteers will not be reimbursed."
The staff member described Cruella's mood as "unholy," her aura as "chaotic evil with bangs," and her coat as "long, feral," and which "hasn't seen a brush since the Bush administration."
But the staff member revealed the truth behind the "gremlin rage": "She’s terrified. She’s been neglected. She’s been let down. And the only coping skill she has left is: Bite first, ask questions never."
That all said and done, however, the staff member has made a promise to the terrified dog: "You can hate us, curse us, plot our destruction—we’re still gonna love you, feed you, and eventually give you the glow-up of your life."
The staff member promised that, once Cruella is comfortable enough, they are going to give her "the spa day she deserves"—but, for now, "we're keeping all digits inside the vehicle and letting our spicy queen decompress like a tiny, angry rotisserie chicken.
"Stay tuned for her redemption arc. We BELIEVE in the day Cruella transforms from Murder Muppet to Snuggle Goblin."
All About Animals Rescue's Kathy Brantley spoke to Newsweek and said that dogs like Cruella, "who come into shelters scared or shut down, are often misunderstood as ‘aggressive,’ when really they’re just terrified and reacting the only way they know how."
She added: "Many of these dogs end up being euthanized simply because no one gives them the time, patience, or compassion they desperately need. When you look past the fear, the mats, and the behavior that comes from survival mode, you realize these animals aren’t vicious; they’re hurting."
Brantley said: "Cruella is a perfect example of what can happen when a dog is seen for who they can be, not just how they appear on their worst day."
The shelter's Facebook post, which includes a photo of the small, wiry-haired dog in a kennel, had a huge reaction, receiving close to 10,000 likes, as more than 1,300 people flocked to the comments to share their own stories.
One, sharing a photo of their own grumpy-looking dog, wrote: "I found this guy at a gas station. No one could capture or touch him. He was a mean, biting machine. We trapped him, I drove him home, and shaved him, bathed, debugged him in one fell swoop.
"To this day he hasn't even thought about snapping. Once he got some help, and realized I loved him he turned into the most loyal and sweet baby around."
Another wrote about how their dog was found underneath a barn, and at first was "super defensive and mouth aggressive," but "with patience and lots of love he came around to becoming one of the most precious souls ever."
And a third shared: "So we adopted a shitzu that was labeled aggressive. I spent hours upon hours for days wearing welding gloves and letting him go ham sandwich on my hands while holding him and petting him and reassuring him that he was a good boy and that he was OK. Years later and he's still just the calmest little snuggle bug who gives the best kisses."
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Among the stories of dogs like Cruella who became loving pets once they found the right home, and some interested in adopting Cruella once she was ready, others praised the rescue for their unique post—as one put it: "Whoever wrote this needs to be a New York Times best selling author."
There are millions of canines like Cruella waiting for homes in shelters and rescues across the United States. In 2024 alone, an estimated 5.8 million animals entered shelters, with around 2 million dogs being adopted, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
A report from the National Animal Interest Alliance states that behavioral issues of canines in shelters have myriad causes: malnutrition as puppies can stunt their development and lead them to become overly protective of their food and toys, while neglect can lead to fearful aggression of humans.
Update, 11/18/2025, 11 a.m. ET: This article has been updated to include comment from All About Animals Rescue.
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