Age 13 Senior Dog Cries as Owner Returns Home from the Army
Service members all over the country leave their friends and family for basic training, and then to serve our country. They are sorely missed by all those who know them.
But for Army Strong Private Hannah Foraker from Cleveland, Ohio, it was the furry member of her family that seemed to miss her most acutely.
The 21-year-old left for Oklahoma in September of 2015 for her basic training.
Foraker grew up on a farm with her family, her horse Derby, and her 13-year-old golden retriever, Buddy. Foraker even has a YouTube channel dedicated to her antics with her friends from the animal kingdom.
Foraker reported, “I’ve never been away from home before. I’ve lived a very sheltered life.
“To have to leave to go to another state alone in a stressful environment like basic training was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”
Buddy has been with Foraker since she was a little puppy. As she’s aged, she’s gone mostly deaf and developed arthritis.
But when Foraker returned for holiday break, Buddy couldn’t contain her joy. She seemed just as excited as when she was a little puppy.
Foraker uploaded their reunion to her YouTube channel and it went viral. To date it has over 6 million views!
Buddy’s best friend described the reunion, “We opened the front door and she came running out and greeted me and my family, but then kind of did a double take and came back to me.”
What ensued after was nothing short of overwhelming adorableness.
Foraker gushed, “She was completely overwhelmed and she couldn’t even stand up.”
Her whole family marveled at Buddy’s transformation during the few short weeks she was home.
Foraker described, “My parents were so astonished by how happy she was during my time at home. She normally has trouble going up and down the stairs and takes shorter walks, but now that I was home she was so happy and active. She would get up and do her happy dance.”
The joyful excitement Buddy shared with her best friend reminds me of what it’s like to experience wonderment in the simple things.
When was the last time you were just as excited as Buddy to see a loved one return home?
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