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By Liz O'Connell
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A video of a senior dog waiting patiently on the sidewalk for his previous elderly owner—unaware that she had passed away—has broken hearts across social media.
Jakey, a 13-year-old dog, had his life turned upside down when he arrived at Dogs Trust, an animal shelter in the United Kingdom, last year. Scared and confused, he did not understand why his home was gone or that his previous owner had passed. After four failed adoptions, he finally found a match when Elliot, who is known on TikTok as @ellandjakey, decided to give him a chance.
The transition wasn't easy, Elliot told Newsweek via email. Jakey was reactive to every dog he met outside. He was nervous, anxious and on edge. It took months for Elliot and Jakey to settle into a routine together. But eventually, Jakey realized Elliot was his new person, and the bond between them began to deepen.
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But every so often, Jakey seems to think back to his previous owner and the life he had before. In a November 19 TikTok video, Elliot filmed Jakey sitting on the sidewalk, looking into the distance as if waiting for his last owner to appear. His grief comes in waves, and the clip shows he still misses her, despite being happy with Elliot.
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An article from the American Kennel Club stated that dogs might not understand the full extent of human absence, but they do know the feeling of missing a human or dog who is no longer part of their daily lives. Dogs will pick up on clues—change in routine, absence of the owner's sight, sound or smell—that make them understand something happened.
Each dog reacts to grief differently, making it important for owners to keep an eye out for signs affect their health. These signs include loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, listlessness or clinginess and loss of interest in physical play. Canines might be stressed and anxious, which can be shown through panting, whining, barking, pacing or fidgeting.
Elliot started noticing Jakey turning a corner after the fifth month together. Jakey began to unwind fully. He grew out of his aggressiveness. It finally clicked for him that this was his forever home, leading to his nervous system calming down and losing weight.
"The real Jakey has come out, and he's relaxed so much more," Elliot said. "Now he can play with dogs in the pub and run around-he knows not to go for them. Everybody loves him wherever he goes. He's the talk of the town!"
Viewer Reactions
With over 23,600 views and 2,592 likes on TikTok, people flocked to the video, feeling bittersweet for Jakey. They're heartbroken to see him grieving, but thrilled to hear he's been rescued.
"Thank you for rescuing a senior friend," wrote a viewer, while another added: "This has both made my day and made me tear up a little."
Someone else chimed in: "There is life and love after loss, you’re teaching him!"
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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