There wasn’t a dry eye left on the internet after a woman shared a video about meeting and adopting a dog who was about to be surrendered to a shelter.
Earlier this month, Christina Podolyan, 25, was told by her partner Leish that they were taking a surprise day trip—which turned out to be to an RSPCA shelter. When they walked in, Podolyan spotted a man at the reception with a pup who was “beyond joyful and excited.” She congratulated him on his new rescue dog, but she told Newsweek that his response left her heartbroken.
“He responded by saying that unfortunately he was there to do the opposite, and he’d decided to surrender her,” said Podolyan, from Melbourne, Australia. “I had to remove myself as I was quite emotional to hear that, and I went to the nearest bathroom.”
After composing herself, the Generation Zer—people born between 1997 and 2012— went back outside just in time to catch the man before he left. He’d been told to go to another shelter as the RSPCA was full. But Podolyan insisted that wasn’t necessary, as she volunteered to take the Staffordshire bull terrier and American pit bull cross home with her instead.
@christinapodolyan / TikTok
The man’s partner was sick in hospital and he could no longer care for the dog, who name was originally Kara, so he was “desperate to get rid” of the pet. He gave her to Podolyan for free and she promised to foster Kara until she found a forever home.
Little did they realize she already had.
“We know shelters are flooded with her breed, so the likelihood of her being adopted didn’t seem realistic,” she continued. “As soon as I saw how she looked at us, I realized this poor pup has absolutely no idea what she’s about to get into.
“Dogs have no idea why they are surrendered and that memory stays with them forever. She has got to be the gentlest girl we’ve ever come across, and we could never live with ourselves if we let her break like that.”
The dog was renamed Bambi, and it was clear from the outset that she was completely besotted with her new owners. She wouldn’t leave their side and loved curling up in their laps.
After just one day together, Podolyan captured an adorable video of Bambi lying on her and being incredibly affectionate. She shared the clip to her TikTok account, @christinapodolyan, explaining that Bambi was surrendered by her previous owner just 24 hours prior and “this is how she looks at me now.”
The video melted hearts online, gaining more than 398,000 views and 59,100 likes in a matter of days.
Podolyan told Newsweek that she was “so emotional” when she took the video as Bambi was only supposed to be a temporary foster. But the dog made such a lasting impression in such a short amount of time that there was no chance she could give her up.
She said: “I was so in love with her and the thought of her driving away with someone else made me cry. So, we decided that she’s in her forever home with us. The world works in mysterious ways, and I think it’s too random for us to have been at the same place at the same time for it to not have been fate.”
While she didn’t expect her video to generate so much attention online, Podolyan hopes it will encourage more people to adopt a pet and give them a loving home. With many shelters full to capacity there are countless animals in need of saving, and Podolyan has felt firsthand how special the bond can be with a rescue.
“If you are on the hunt for a furry companion, please consider a rescue. Puppies will be adopted regardless, but you have the opportunity to change the life of an animal in need. Trust me, they will forever remember you as their hero,” she said.
Many of the responses to her video thanked her for adopting Bambi and saving her from life in a shelter.
One person said: “This pup is so grateful. I don’t think she can leave… she will be happy wherever you are.”
Another TikToker wrote: “You guys found each other in this lifetime. Soulmates.”
While one person added: “you are healing her broken heart and she’s so grateful.”
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.