A video of a dog’s reaction to seeing his owners go away on vacation has captured the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.
The video—posted from @nycgolden, the TikTok account of a 4-year-old golden retriever called Bowie in New York City—has garnered over 307,000 views since it was shared on August 10. The clip chronicles the moment Bowie watches his family walk out the door, sparking an outpouring of sympathy from TikTok users who can relate to the pain of leaving their pets behind.
The footage begins with Bowie standing at the door, his eyes fixed on his departing owners, as they load their bags into the car for their trip to Italy. A message overlaid on the video reads: “On our way to Italy for two weeks. Very difficult to leave Bowie behind. Regretting every second that I planned this trip.”
The dog is shown walking around the house, appearing devastated, as his owners make their way out the door. A caption shared with the post reads: “I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s me that I’m worried about.“
Bowie’s apparent sadness over his owners going away is not surprising because the unique relationship between adult dogs and their owners “bears a remarkable resemblance to an infant attachment bond,” noted a May 2013 study published in PLOS One.
“Dogs are dependent on human care and their behavior seems specifically geared to engage their owners’ care-giving system,” the study said.
‘Broke My Heart Into Pieces’
The owners in the viral TikTok clip attempt to comfort themselves with the thought that Bowie will be in familiar surroundings, as a note across the video says: “He’ll be with my dad in the house he knows and he’ll be fine.”
A voice in the video, likely one of Bowie’s owners, says gently “Bye, Bowie, be a good boy,” while a man gives the dog a final chin scratch, adding “Be a good boy, we love you.”
Despite the reassurances, Bowie’s gaze remains fixed ahead, his posture reflecting his quiet understanding of the situation. A note across the screen reads: “He is watching us from the stoop as we’re getting in the car.”
Bowie later sits on the stoop, refusing to move, as his family drives away. A follow-up note on the video says “My dad sent me this video. He says he’s still sitting on the stoop, refusing to come in.”
Bowie’s reaction resonated with many TikTok users, who shared their own experiences of leaving beloved pets behind during vacations.
User @malibu777777 highlighted the poignancy of Bowie “sitting on the stoop,” to which the original poster replied, “that broke my heart into pieces.”
Comments flooded in from pet owners who felt the same emotions as Bowie’s family. Angela Harrington wrote “It’s so hard to leave our fur babies when we love them so much!!”
ScorpiousRose
Another user, Alex Lian, shared “This is why I can’t travel unless my dogs can go with me,” reflecting a sentiment echoed by many who prefer to include their pets in travel plans. For some, like Emma&ekho, the thought of leaving their pets is too much to bear: “This is why I haven’t been away since having my dog… I can’t do it.”
Others shared how their lives had changed after getting pets. User yurdum wrote “Haven’t been on a destination vacation in 11 years and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If he can’t go, I don’t go.”
Liese Nicholls added “We have changed our holiday habits now and go to France so we can take our dog with us. Couldn’t take the big sad eyes anymore!”
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok. This video has not been independently verified.
A golden retriever looking out through a glass window. A video of a golden retriever’s heartbreaking reaction to watching his owners leave for vacation has gone viral on TikTok.
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