A woman who felt nostalgic to look at her childhood home on Google Street View was left in tears by what she spotted outside it.
A recent TikTok trend has seen many social-media users searching for the home where they grew up on Google Street View to reminisce about old times. After seeing so many versions of this online, Anna Costley, 25, of Michigan, couldn't help but join in and look for her childhood home, which was sold last year.
Seeing the house on her screen was emotional, but it was who she saw outside it that left her reeling. Standing on the driveway were her two childhood dogs, Louis the puggle, and Josie the terrier pug mix. Sadly, both dogs have since died, as the family said goodbye to Louie in 2021, and to Josie earlier this year.
Costley told Newsweek that seeing the dogs on Google Street View was so bittersweet, but she felt great "happiness to see them once again."
She shared the photo of her late pups on TikTok (@annacostleyy) and the post went viral with more than 5.1 million views and over 1.4 million likes at the time of writing.
"I am probably one of the most nostalgic people in the world," Costley said. "The TikTok trend was making me so sad, and I wanted to see what my old house looked like. Since I was already crying from the trend, I thought it couldn't hurt to cry some more."
Costley continued: "Seeing the photo instantly gave me a wave of nostalgia. The trend really shows you how fast life moves. Something can be your reality one day and quickly become just a memory. I watched those two crazy dogs bark in the driveway hundreds of times and never realized how much I would miss it."
Costley isn't certain when the images were captured, but she says it had to have been sometime between 2010 and 2019.
Her family got Louie when she was just 5 years old, and Josie when she was 8. They were a huge part of her childhood and by her side as she grew into an adult. Seeing them standing in their rightful spot on the driveway, where they loved to guard their home, brought back so many fond memories.
The dogs may no longer be here, but barely a day goes by when Costley doesn't think of her furry best friends still.
"They were the craziest dogs and the funniest. People would say that Josie was so ugly, but she made our whole family laugh because she was so goofy, and she really brought our family together. She would follow you around like your shadow all day and she just loved being around people. Louie was my best bud, and he was so funny," Costley told Newsweek.
After posting the throwback image on social media, Costley was amazed by the heartwarming reaction. She said she hopes this trend helps more people appreciate what they have while it is still here, because no amount of nostalgia can bring loved ones back once they are gone.
"I hope people are reminded to live in the moment and enjoy where you are now, because it goes much quicker than we realize. They were a part of my childhood, and I miss them a lot," Costley said.
Since her TikTok post went viral, it has amassed more than 5,700 comments at the time of writing. The heartwarming discovery left many people in tears, and others even shared their own experiences of losing a beloved pet.
One comment reads: "That's the sweetest thing ever."
Another person wrote: "Hits real hard, they really are the part of life."
A third TikTok user added: "I would say lucky you! It's like a tribute for your dogs."
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