Owner care and affection are two things that pets adore. Being touched, however, seemed like a dream to this Border Collie that had a rough beginning in life.

In a Claremore, Oklahoma, shelter, the dog—who was once known as Kong—lived in neglect for a whole year. He looked devasted, his skin sunburned and much of his fur falling out in parts, when the personnel at Border Collie Rescue & Rehab (Texas) discovered him. Kong was totally unaffected by a serious skin ailment, as others subsequently learned.

Kong, identified as #387 on the rescue’s website, was taken in by Border Collie Rescue & Rehab, where he recovered for months.

But in reality, true love strikes without warning, as seen by the way Curtis Hartsell fell in love with the white puppy with the welcoming smile without even needing a name. The man filed the application form out of love even though he was concerned that his hectic schedule might not allow him to care for the puppy.

He told The Dodo, “I came across his profile and fell in love with the description they put on the page and his single picture right away. After I briefly gave her a rundown of my life, his foster mother stated we seemed like the ideal match. She also described his temperament and demeanor.

The day they could finally meet was a momentous occasion that the two could look forward to after a protracted procedure of interviews and house inspections.

In order to give Kong a fresh start, his new owner called him ZIB. Hartsell thought he had known the dog for a long time when he first saw it. People watching broke down in tears as ZIB excitedly and happily cuddled the new father.

I took his leash in hand. After giving him his new name and asking whether he wanted to go home with me, I got down in front of him, Hartsell recalled. I’ll call you ZIB, I promise. How about you? Hey ZIB, how about we go home together? Standing in front of me, he bowed his head, hugged me, and looked into my eyes. I will always cherish that moment since it was so wonderful.

The level of happiness and fulfillment I am experiencing is beyond words. Knowing that this poor puppy was once abandoned and all he wanted was love, and that I get to give him that love every day now, is wonderful,” the man continued.

ZIB is a joyful dog; he used to be in so much agony that he couldn’t tolerate being handled, but these days he craves affection and hugs.