One former stray couldn't hide her excitement when her new owner signed the adoption papers to take her home at last; and now the adorable moment has gone viral online.
Luna spent 11 days at the Walton County Animal Services (WCAS) in Florida, and, though she wasn't there for too long, she couldn't wait to leave and start a new chapter in life. As her new owner signed all the paperwork in the reception area, Luna gladly perched beside her on the chair and wagged her tail excitedly, as though she knew what this meant.
Patricia Weingartner, the animal services manager at the WCAS, was delighted by Luna's reaction, telling Newsweek that it "was the cutest moment in time." The shelter workers have certainly seen their fair share of happy dogs meeting their new owners, but none like Luna, who got excited just seeing the paperwork being signed.
"We were surprised when she jumped up in the chair and watched her new mom fill out the paperwork. We were just thinking, 'You can't make this up. This dog knows she has a home,'" Weingartner said.
"Luna was picked up as a stray dog, and no one came to claim her. She was great with our staff and other dogs, always very friendly."
The video of Luna wagging her tail and watching her new owner make the adoption official was posted on TikTok (@wcasfl) on January 13, the same day she was taken home. The clip has already been viewed more than 1.8 million times and received over 343,300 likes.
Alongside the adorable footage, the caption reads that "Luna stood like this the whole time her new mom was filling out her adoption papers." It's not only the staff at the WCAS who are pleased to see Luna get a second chance at life, because it turns out that the internet is equally delighted for her.
Luna certainly isn't the only dog who was hoping for a new owner to find her, as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says that 6.3 million companion animals enter shelters across the country every year. There is a happy ending for around 4.1 million of them who get adopted each year, but there are still many more yet to find their forever home.
For the 11 days that Luna spent in the rescue center, Weingartner said that "she did not receive much interest" sadly. But, thankfully, she is loving her new home and "doing amazing," and she even has an elderly brother and a younger brother, so she has plenty of company.
After seeing the love and joy that Luna had for her new mom, the shelter hopes that more people will consider rescuing an animal in need of a loving home.
"I would love to let people know that some of the best animals are sitting at shelters all over the country, waiting for their forever homes. Please give them a chance and don't let their behavior in the kennel make you shy away. Take them to the yard, and you will see their true personalities," Weingartner told Newsweek.
Since the TikTok video went viral, it has gained over 3,290 comments already, as plenty of people praised Luna's heartfelt reaction in that precious moment. One comment reads: "It's amazing to me how they always know. I've fostered over 300 and they just know."
Another TikTok user wrote: "she's telling everyone, this is my new mom."
A third commenter said: "Luna is proud to show off her new mom!"
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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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Alyce Collins is a Newsweek Life and Trends reporter based in Birmingham, U.K. with a focus on trending topics that ... Read more
