New Service Dog Has Hilariously Unexpected Response to Owner in Need

A video recalling the story of a service dog's "panicked" reaction to its owner taking a fall has gone viral on TikTok.

The clip was shared by @zeus.the.pomsky and has had over 152,000 views since it was posted on April 1. The footage shows a pup slumped over on a dog bed.

A voice in the clip says: "A month after we had been paired, my mom fell. As a service dog, I am trained to check if she is conscious first, then respond accordingly."

Noting that it was the first time the owner fell in the presence of the service dog, the voice says that the canine said to itself, "Okay 4 minutes go, you have trained your whole life for this. This is your time to shine."

However, "instead of checking on her first, I panicked, stared at her, then ran and got her bra and brought it to her," the voice continued.

"She was so mad but to be honest, I had assessed the situation and in my professional opinion, you require way more support than I alone can give you right now," the voice noted.

According to ADA.gov, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) website of the U.S. Department of Justice, service animals are defined as dogs of any breed and size that are "trained to perform a task directly related to a person's disability."

Service animals are not "required to be certified or go through a professional training program" or "to wear a vest or other ID that indicates they're a service dog," the website notes.

Some of the reported benefits of having an assistance dog for humans with disabilities have included increased independence and a greater frequency in leaving the house, as well as more social interactions.

However, "partnering with a service dog does not always improve life for a person with disability," noted a June 2019 study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

The study explained: "The outcomes are inconsistent among different pairs of service dogs and their human partners. The dogs and humans are both living creatures and the interaction of the two develops into a unique relationship which can have both good and bad aspects.

"Predicting the outcomes of partnering a service dog has become more difficult than before as new roles of service dogs have been created and these new types of service dogs are little-studied."

'Mistake Is Forgiven'

TikTok users were sympathetic towards the service dog in the viral post.

Jerri RN wrote: "Awe bless your heart!!" and nazehenna said "Aww he is just a baby. Mistake is forgiven."

TwigShortOfABroomstick noted: "He's 100 percent good boi!!! He acknowledged that the support needed is greater than he can provide. Such a cutie too!!!"

CherokeeRose Carroll said: "He absolutely wanted to give absolute you support."

Cassawass said: "What a professional."

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.

Husky on dog bed.
A stock image of a canine looking up while laying in a dog bed. A video recalling the story of a service dog's unexpected reaction to its owner falling has gone viral on TikTok. iStock / Getty Images Plus

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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About the writer


Soo Kim is a Newsweek reporter based in London, U.K. She covers various lifestyle stories, specializing in travel and health. 

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