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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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One very independent golden retriever had a brief, but hilarious, existential crisis in Central Park this week, in a moment that has gained viral attention online.
Millie was walking with her owner, Hayley Zukerberg, in the center of New York City when she lost sight of her mom.
In the video Millie was confidently walking along a park path, her own leash in her mouth, tail wagging, and clearly enjoying the freedom of a spring stroll.
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"Millie just turned one, and she's already convinced she's a full-grown independent woman," Zukerberg told Newsweek.
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But a few seconds into the video, however, Millie suddenly stopped. Her body language shifted as she glanced around, seemingly trying to remember where her human went.
Though her owner was standing nearby, the realization seemed to hit Millie like a ton of bricks. She quickly turns back and does the sweetest thing—immediately starts searching for her owner, looking in all directions.
The text overlay on the Instagram video, shared to account @millieinthecity_, read: "That 5 seconds of panic when you misplace Mom," and it perfectly encapsulated the mood. It resonated with pet owners and lovers alike, with the clip, shared earlier this week, already amassing more than 8.3 million views.
According to Zukerberg, Millie has always had a larger-than-life personality. "She loves carrying her own leash and confidently 'walking herself' through the park like she runs the place," she told Newsweek. "I was actually filming one of those moments when she suddenly paused—mid-strut—and turned around like, 'Wait... wasn't I with someone?'"
Despite her owner being close by, Millie's "5 seconds of panic" was clear in the video. "I was only about 20 feet behind her, but in true Millie fashion, she was completely caught up in her own world. She's got such a big, funny personality, and it makes my heart so happy when people fall in love with her the way I have," Zukerberg said.
In just three days, the comments have been filled with reactions from dog lovers. Many viewers drew comparison between Millie's moment of panic and children who suddenly realize they've become separated from a parent in a crowded store.
"POV: you lost your mom at the supermarket," joked viewer ann_bella00.
While Instagram user miko.garfields said: "That's what you get for holding your own leash."
After her momentary panic, Millie quickly located her owner and trotted back with her usual sunny disposition, with no harm done.
This isn't the first time Millie has gained viral fame. Last year when she was just 10 weeks old she melted hearts when she was filmed in New York's West Village during a rainy day.
Millie was caught on camera by a woman having a coffee in the area. Danielle was delighted when she spotted the pup and her owner walking down the street, but because of the rain, her owner Owen was shielding her with an umbrella.
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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