Man Who Never Owned a Pet Finally Gets a Dog, Admits 'Now I Get It'

A man who had never owned a pet quickly realized what he had been missing when he became owner to his first-ever dog, Nina.

James Rhodes, 49, is a concert pianist, writer and photographer, with a published autobiography, Instrumental. While he's lived a fascinating life, he never experienced having a pet—until his wife decided it was time.

Speaking to Newsweek, he described the moment he and his wife traveled from their home in Madrid, Spain, to collect their puppy as "one of the best days of my life".

Rhodes shared a clip of everyday life with Nina, now three, to Reddit's r/MadeMeSmile sub, where it racked up over 64,000 upvotes. It shows the black pup rushing excitedly to the small elevator, while Rhodes is coming up, and she can't sit still with excitement.

First pacing the corridor, jumping and barking, tail wagging, she gets even more animated as the elevator arrives, pawing at the door as though trying to open it. And as the doors open, the pair have a joyful reunion.

Rhodes captioned the sweet video: "Every time I come home. My first ever pet. Now I get it."

James Rhodes is 49, and got his first-ever pet three years ago. He has been blown away by the bond that forms between an owner and their dog. Reddit u/jrhodespianist

He told Newsweek that forming a bond with his dog gave him a "similar feeling" to when his child was born.

"Something cracked open in my [heart] that had been closed for a long, long time," he said.

"That unconditional, non-judgemental, pure, ever-present love is just life-changing. It´s an incredible feeling."

Owning a dog provides its owner with unconditional love, emotional support and general companionship.

A national survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) found that 80 percent of pet-owning respondents agreed interactions with their pets helped reduce loneliness.

Rhodes is a concert pianist, and Nina regularly sits and listens to him play. Their bond has gone viral thanks to a sweet clip shared to Reddit. James Rhodes

Reddit users were hugely moved by the clip, shared on October 24, with one commenter sharing: "My dog used to get so excited every day I got home. My partner would send me photos of her waiting at the door. She did this for 16 years. Miss you Oreo."

Another commented on the "pure friendship" between Rhodes and his dog, while a third described it as "the best thing in the world."

Rhodes, who also posts to Instagram under the username @jrhodespianist, revealed his pup is named after the musician Nina Simone, and said she is "a big fan of the piano."

"Every morning when I start to practice she runs into my studio, lies down by my feet and just listens quietly, staring at me. She doesn't even complain when I hit a wrong note. The perfect audience!"

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.