An 84-year-old woman named Shirley Lann from North Carolina was downhearted for weeks after her beloved dog Kinsey passed away. They were together for 14 years.
What made the loss more difficult for the grandma was that she shared Kinsey with her late husband. The three of them made a lot of beautiful memories together until Shirley’s husband died in 2011.
Shirley’s mood and disposition drastically changed following Kinsey’s death. Even her entire family noticed how different she was from the cheerful grandma they knew.
But this change wasn’t surprising at all. Many studies suggest that dogs, as well as other pets, provide humans with a host of benefits.
Interacting with these furry babies helps decrease the loneliness, stress, and anxiety of their owners. Pets even have a positive physiological impact — they can reduce blood pressure and improve heart health.
Hence, Shirley’s family planned a sweet surprise for her. No one could ever replace Kinsey, of course, but they reckoned that a new canine companion would do grandma a world of good.
Shirley’s daughter went to a few local shelters in search of the perfect pooch. Soon, she found Sammy, an adorable Lhasa Apso.
She then paid a visit to her mom, a sunny smile on her face. Shirley was staying at a medical facility at the time, recovering from some health issues.
When grandma saw Sammy with her daughter, she buried her face in her hands and started sobbing in joy. Still crying, Shirley took the Lhasa Apso in her arms, cradling him and affectionately pressing her cheek against the dog’s fur.
The plan to cheer up grandma worked! After meeting Sammy, Shirley couldn’t wait for her discharge from the medical facility.
Grandma has already fallen in love with the Lhasa Apso, and she looks forward to getting to know him better. Watch the lovely moment between Shirley and Sammy in the video below, shared by her grandson:
My grandma lost her dog that she’s had for the past 14 years about a month ago (she was extremely close with her since it was my late grandfather’s dog too) and hasn’t been the same since she passed. Today my mom surprised her with Sammy 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/QpipPdxKOl
— Matt M (@matthewmcvey_) September 5, 2018
Source: Matt M on Twitter and Inside Edition
