Any parent knows how difficult it can be to drop your child off at daycare and spend the entire time wondering how they’re doing. As it turns out, this also applies to dog parents.
When dog owners Mikayla Zaglaniczny, 29, and her husband Jesse took their golden retriever, Sawyer, to daycare, they didn’t know what to expect. The couple, from Michigan, hoped he would settle into a good routine and get along with his new classmates, but like most parents, they were nervous on that first day.
Zaglaniczny told Newsweek that she “kept wondering how he was feeling” the whole time, but fortunately for her, the doggy daycare in Hudsonville has a solution to ease any concerns. Owners can see what their dogs are doing through a live feed for as long as they want, and that is precisely what Zaglaniczny did, as she “couldn’t look away.”
“Sawyer had his first daycare experience on August 31. He had a scheduled doggy daycare interview, and we had to drop him off for a minimum of three hours for them to evaluate how he interacts with their staff and other dogs,” she said.
“I had plans with one of my friends that day, and I actually ended up pushing our plans back because I wanted to watch the live feed. My husband and I watched it for probably a full hour before I had to peel myself away from the couch.”
Mikayla Zaglaniczny and her husband Jesse watching their golden retriever Sawyer on his first day at daycare. The couple could hardly peel their eyes off the live feed all day, and they still love checking in each time he goes now too.
@mikaylaryan / TikTok
After a while, Jesse switched over and put football on instead. However, that didn’t stop them from checking in on their phones just to see how Sawyer was getting on.
Seeing their pup on the live feed was a huge selling point for the couple, who love seeing how well he’s cared for.
“I was nervous the whole time, but something that comforted me was watching his tail wag the whole day,” Zaglaniczny said.
After having such a great start to daycare, Sawyer has gone a few more times, and his owners plan to send him there once a week to burn off his excess energy. On those days when he’s with friends, there’s no doubt what will be streamed on the television back home.
The TikTok Reaction
Zaglaniczny posted a video on TikTok (@mikaylaryan) showing the devoted owners watching Sawyer on his first day through the live feed. The caption alongside the clip joked, “We will be here all day.”
The video has delighted social media users. Since it was posted on August 31, it has already amassed over 75,300 views and more than 7,000 likes on TikTok.
It’s not just Sawyer’s owners who do this, either, as plenty of other owners could relate to the struggles of wanting to keep an eye on their four-legged friend while they’re at daycare.
“It has been so sweet to see other people share their experiences with doggy daycare. Dog people are the best,” Zaglaniczny told Newsweek.
“We decided to introduce Sawyer to daycare so he can burn some of his energy on days when we’re particularly busy. The workers tell us that Sawyer is a huge lover, loves pets, and is doing very well. They have been so kind and welcoming, and we appreciate all the love and attention they give our boy.”
Among the comments on the viral TikTok post, many people lauded the dedicated couple for caring so much about their dog, and others joked that they would do the same.
One comment reads: “I would never get anything done on daycare days if my daycare had a camera. I’d love to watch her all day play with her besties.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “ok so this is normal & not just me – thank you.”
“Mine has an app, and I have to make myself not watch it. I’m the one with the separation anxiety lol,” joked another commenter.
While one person responded: “I did this at work on my second screen.”
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.
