Dog Owner Put Pit Bull in Protective Shoes, Was Shocked by Critical Comments: 'Broke My Heart' (Exclusive)

Davis Bourgeois says her dog suffers from a number of health issues, including allergies that cause excessive paw-licking

• Davis Bourgeois received over 2 million views on her TikTok showing her pet pit bull, Piper, wearing shoes meant to help her stop licking her paws

• The dog looked visibly uncomfortable wearing her protective gear, and her owner gently attempted to soothe Piper

• While most appreciated the comedy of the now-viral moment, Bourgeois tells PEOPLE she saw many negative comments about the footwear and the pit bull breed in general

Breaking in new shoes is rarely easy for humans, but just imagine how it feels to sport a new pair when you have four feet.

TikTok creator Davis Bourgeois caught the attention of 2 million viewers when she posted a video of her pit bull wearing paw-protecting shoes. The 5-year-old canine, Piper, stood awkwardly atop Bourgeois' bed with her legs stiffly splayed out beneath her. From behind the camera, Bourgeois spoke reassuring words to her pooch and gently adjusted her feet in an effort to make Piper more comfortable.

"I think they look great! I don't think it's that bad," Bourgeois said in her now-viral TikTok, addressing Piper and adding, "If you didn't lick your paws you wouldn't have to wear these."

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The dog owner tells PEOPLE she originally purchased the shoes for her camping adventures with Piper to help her walk over hot grounds and avoid getting poked by sticks. Recently, however, she developed bad allergies and started licking her paws throughout the night, but it's unclear if shoes are a viable way to mend the issue.

"I tried them on her to see if she would potentially stop licking until her meds kicked in but clearly it just made her freeze up," Bourgeois explains. "Since then I have tried putting socks on her paws but she is anti-shoes, as you'd expect from a dog."

Despite receiving over 327,000 likes on her video, Bourgeois was also hit with a wave of critical comments, including some that suggested she should euthanize Piper because of the stereotypical associations between pit bulls and aggressive behavior.

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What her critics don't know, Bourgeois tells PEOPLE, is that Piper has a number of health issues that require extensive treatment. She says her dog was prescribed special food for her pancreatitis, takes medicine and monthly shots for her allergies and makes quarterly visits to the veterinarian for her "recently discovered heart murmur."

Plus, Bourgeois insists, "Piper is the best." She never expected to own a pit bull, but Piper disproved any preconceptions about the breed soon after Bourgeois rescued her at 8 weeks old, just after going through a bad breakup. They've lived in four houses together and have made memories traveling "all over" as a pair.

"She's changed mine and so many of my friends and family members' hearts on how they see pit bulls," says the dedicated dog mom. "She's loving, sassy, protective and has the [most random] mannerisms. She is afraid of cords and feathers but loves people and especially kids. I feel so lucky to have such a good dog who has changed the minds of so many on the pit bull stigma."

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Knowing and loving Piper's friendly personality, Bourgeois felt especially hurt by the negativity from some social media users. "It broke my heart to see the hate I received by so many who don't know Piper's story and just assume she's a killer," she says.

Bourgeois is more than happy to focus on the positive replies that appreciate the comical content and the lovable breed.

"A lot of people [were] saying it was their favorite video they've seen on TikTok and a lot of Bully breed advocates [were] showing me love," she tells PEOPLE. "I even had about 90 DMs from people offering advice for pit bull allergies."

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