The internet was left in tears by the heartwarming moment a rescue dog met his forever family—and he didn't waste a second before rolling onto his back and demanding belly rubs.
For Acia Bradshaw, 34, and her family, the tragic loss of their dog Donatello on October 3 was incredibly painful. The house didn't feel right without him, as Bradshaw told Newsweek that a home without a dog "is not the same." Her son Skye, 11, and daughter Lily, 9, were devastated to lose their furry friend because they'd grown up around dogs and felt empty without one.
"A house is not a home without a dog," Bradshaw, of Chicago, Illinois said. "After losing Donnie, all of us were so sad. Our days were quiet, we missed hearing the pitter-patter of paws, and the wet nose kisses when we got home."
Almost a month after saying goodbye to Donatello, the family made the decision to welcome a new puppy into their lives, and they met a dog called Vampy at Chicago Animal Care and Control (CACC).
Straight away, Bradshaw and her husband Tommy, 35, knew he would be the perfect fit for them. It was clear that he could bring happiness back into their lives, and they signed the adoption papers without hesitation.
But there was one thing they had to change before making it official—he needed a new name. All their previous dogs were named after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and they wanted to keep it going. So, Vampy got his new name of Michelangelo (Mikey for short).
Bradshaw continued: "The moment the volunteer brought him to us, he laid at our feet and was ready for belly rubs. He was playful with Skye and gentle with Lily and showed that he liked to play fetch and give cuddles. My husband and I knew that day we were going home with a new best friend.
"Seeing him wag his tail as he made the journey down the hall to us felt like he was saying goodbye to all his playmates and saying hello to his new family. Skye and Lily were already calling him Mikey, wondering if he likes the water and what his favorite treat would be."
In the days since, Mikey has settled into his new home incredibly well, and Bradshaw has loved seeing the constant smiles on her children's faces as a result. They love spending time with him, taking him on walks, and sneaking him one too many treats under the table.
She posted a video on TikTok (@skye9bradshaw) showing the moment they adopted Mikey, and he immediately requested the all-important belly rubs. The clip went viral with over 855,000 views and 135,300 likes in just a number of days.
The reaction to the video has been unlike anything Bradshaw could have imagined, but she hopes that people who see the love Mikey instantly brought to her family will inspire others to adopt.
She told Newsweek: "After losing Donnie, my kids had both been really sad, but having Mikey around has made them happy again. He's the best friend they needed.
"I hope the adoption video brings more attention to Chicago Animal Care & Control, and helps more pups find a loving fur-ever home. I can't emphasize enough how incredible CACC is, and I want to give a huge thank you to the wonderfully dedicated volunteers who do so much for the animals."
The viral video left many social media users in tears and led to over 2,400 comments in just a number of days. Many people praised the family for giving Mikey a second chance at life.
One comment reads: "He knew right away that you were his family."
Another person wrote: "Look at him he is beaming with joy."
While one TikToker responded: "Aww the immediate belly rubs. I think your pup will have a long and happy life."
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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