A dad who watched videos of black labradors every day after the death of his beloved dog couldn’t hide his delight when he was surprised with a new puppy on the anniversary of his previous dog’s passing.
Felix, from Los Angeles, California, shared an incredibly close bond with his black Labrador Baloo, playing in the backyard with him and always finding Baloo at his feet.
But in June 2023, Baloo passed unexpectedly at the age of 12, which broke 75-year-old Felix, his daughter Noemi said, and meant he could not speak of him or look at pictures for months after.
Over time, however, Felix began to heal, and family members noticed each day he would be watching videos of labradors on his phone, reminding him of the good times he shared with Baloo.
Given that these videos had become part of his daily life – and Felix had said he’d love a new lab with a red collar called Baloo Jr – Noemi and her family started trying to make Felix’s dream a reality.
Then, one day in May 2024, a coworker of Felix’s daughter-in-law mentioned she had a litter of black Labrador puppies and still had two left.
One of the puppies had a red collar and blue eyes, like Felix, and so Noemi and her brother felt it was meant to be.
Felix’s children purchased the puppy and asked the breeder if they could collect him as a surprise for Father’s Day, which also happened to be the one-year anniversary of Baloo’s passing.
On June 4, Felix returned home, where he was greeted by Noemi, 37, who had her cellphone aloft recording and the black Labrador puppy in her arms.
As soon as Felix laid eyes on his new companion, he stood with a smile beaming across his face, before putting his head towards the pup to share a loving kiss.
Following the surprise, Felix named his new puppy Kylian, after one of his favorite soccer players, French striker Kylian Mbappe.
Noemi said: “Seeing my dad so happy brought tears to my eyes – it filled my heart with so much emotion.
“He was so surprised, and you could see how he fell in love right away.
“I was surprised at how much attention the video got, and I love that it has all been positive and that so many people are happy for my dad.
“Friends and family have also been so positive and loving with their comments.
“Love on your loved ones always and in any way possible.
“We did this for my dad; however, we can all do something nice to put a smile on someone’s day.”