The heartwarming moment a young puppy named Murphy chose his owner has been melting hearts online.
The instant bond was caught on camera in a video that has over 550,000 views on TikTok. The footage shows the first meeting between owner Maurice, 32, from Munich, Germany, and Murphy, an English cocker spaniel mix, when Murphy was just 10 weeks old.
When he arrived to choose the perfect pup for him, Maurice watched as among the chaos of five other puppies and their mother, Murphy sat still and locked eyes with his new owner.
"He brought the perfect combination of self-confidence and calmness at the same time. I loved that from the first second," Maurice, who didn't give a surname, told Newsweek.
This unmistakable connection left no doubt in Maurice's mind. "This was definitely the point of no return! If the world sends you signs like this, you should, a, be aware of them as a sign and, b, make the best out of it," he said. Even during a second visit to see the puppies, Murphy was the first one waiting behind the door.
Now a year and two months old, Murphy has become an inseparable part of Maurice's life. "Murphy is part of my world since mid-January this year," Maurice said. "I love sharing personal content of moments with my dog that are filled with emotions and bring positive vibes to the platform."
On TikTok, people couldn't get enough of the heartwarming moment, sharing their reactions in the comments.
"Best way... let them choose you. Match made in heaven," said one commenter.
While another wrote: "This is what happened with all three dogs I've had. I'm a huge believer in you don't pick the dog; the dog picks you!"
Maurice said he was delighted by the love and attention Murphy had from fellow TikTokers. "I'm absolutely impressed with how much people on TikTok can relate to that one special moment. It's amazing to see the love Murphy receives from the community," he said.
This isn't the first time a dog has been caught on camera choosing their own owner. Like a dog named Elvis from a shelter in Ohio who instantly made his feelings clear when he met a new family.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.
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