There’s something truly magical about the bond between a person and their dog. Even after time apart, a dog’s love remains constant, and their joy during a reunion can be deeply moving. For Army Private Hannah Foraker, coming home to her beloved dog, Buddy, after months away was a moment filled with emotion and love. Hannah, then 21, left her home in Ohio to begin a new chapter: 10 weeks of basic training. It was her first time leaving home, an experience that brought both excitement and challenges.
“I have never been away from home before, so this was a huge deal for me,” Hannah shared with Today. “It’s truly a character-building experience and makes you appreciate the little things in life.” One of the hardest parts of her departure was saying goodbye to Buddy, her 13-year-old Golden Retriever. Buddy wasn’t just a pet—she was family. “She’s very old and has arthritis and is mostly deaf,” Hannah told Buzzfeed. “But I still remember getting her as a puppy.”
Leaving Buddy behind tugged at Hannah’s heart, especially since she had never experienced such a significant separation. “It pulled at my heartstrings to say goodbye,” she said.
After completing her training, Hannah returned home for the holidays. Waiting to greet her was a moment she’d been dreaming of—and it didn’t disappoint. As Hannah exited her vehicle, Buddy was there waiting. “She came running out and greeted me and my family, but then kind of did a double take and came back to me,” Hannah said.
Overcome with emotion, Buddy collapsed into Hannah’s lap, unable to contain her happiness. “She just collapsed in pure happiness,” Hannah told Today. “She just wanted me to hug her and reaffirm that I was actually there.” The heartwarming reunion was captured on video and quickly went viral, garnering nearly 7 million views on YouTube. But the reunion was just the beginning. Hannah’s visit home seemed to give Buddy a burst of renewed energy.
“My parents were so astonished by how happy she was during my time at home,” Hannah said. “She normally has trouble going up and down the stairs and takes shorter walks, but now that I was home she was so happy and active. She would get up and do her happy dance.”
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At Buddy’s age, every moment together felt even more precious. While the goodbyes were difficult, the reunion was a beautiful reminder of the enduring love between a dog and their human.
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