After getting her first dog in 2018, Danielle Hunt dreamed of getting a companion for Piper the Italian greyhound, but she was also filled with fears about it not working out.
Piper had been the only dog since 2018, so what if she became jealous or didn't like having to share her things with another pup?
Danielle Hunt, 47, and her husband, Tom, have also had cats in their home in Greenville, Ohio, but they knew that wasn't enough for poor old Piper. Hunt told Newsweek that seeing her play gently with the cats "wasn't the same" as the joy she had with all her canine friends at the dog park.
"My husband and I always knew that we wanted to get her a little sister someday who she could play with and keep her company," she added. That day finally came in 2023, when they brought home Honey, also an Italian greyhound.
Hunt was incredibly nervous about how it would go at first, and she had so many doubts about whether she made the right decision for 5-year-old Piper. But all those fears were quashed on the very first night when she saw the dogs form an instant connection, leaving her wondering why she didn't do it sooner.
"I would often have thought about whether Piper would like her, or if she'd be jealous, or what if they don't get along? Then there was the age difference which worried me too. I think that's something a lot of pet parents worry about when adding another pet to their family," Hunt said.
"The night we brought Honey home, they got along really well. Their tails were wagging, and they did a lot of sniffing, and every day their bond would grow. Within a few days, they were playing, sleeping, and eating together."
Fortunately for Hunt, Italian greyhounds tend to be great with other dogs and are very affectionate family pets, so Piper was incredibly welcoming to Honey. Aside from that, the American Kennel Club also notes that they need plenty of exercise, and they happily engage in any playtime whenever it's on offer.
After her initial reservations, Hunt was "so happy and relieved" to see the dogs getting along. What makes their connection even stronger is that they're bred from the same male, so they're half-sisters genetically too.
Ever since Piper was a puppy, Hunt created social media accounts (@misspipertheiggy) for her and regularly documented her antics online. But since Honey joined the family, she's loved sharing the duo's inseparable bond, with one of her videos gaining more than 15,300 views and over 360 likes.
Hunt was delighted to see the video gain such a positive reaction online, and she hopes that anyone else who is considering getting another pet will take the leap.
She told Newsweek: "The response has been overwhelming, and so many people were on the fence like we were about getting a companion for their pet. There were a lot of people who loved hearing about their story and seeing how much they love each other. I'm glad I shared it, and it was the best move we could have made."
Among the comments on the post, one TikTok user wrote: "They have a sunroom, so all is right with the world."
Another comment reads: "That's true love in the making!"
While another person responded: "Sweet pups and sweet set-up, living their best 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.