Senior Golden Retriever Can't Walk Anymore, But Dad Finds A Touching Solution

Any pet owner lucky enough to have a dog or cat reach old age eventually has to experience the heartbreak of watching that beloved animal slow down physically, perhaps becoming unable to do favorite activities any longer. In an emotionally touching video captioned "My dad got a wagon so our 15-year-old girl can still enjoy her walks 🐾" — which has been viewed more than 90,000 times on TikTok — a senior pupper is shown being pulled along the sidewalk in an extra-long wagon.

@elmeerahunny

My dad got a wagon so our 15-year-old girl can still enjoy her walks 🐾 #fyp #goldenretriver #seniordogs #dogsoftiktok #petlove

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Viewers had all the feels for the sweet dog and her people. "Stop it I'm crying. The princess carriage she deserves 😭," observed one, while another wrote, "They are both so cute I'm ugly crying 😭." A few netizens suggested ways to make the pooch's daily excursions even more enjoyable, leaving comments such as "If you let her smell all kinds of sticks, leaves, grass, and even trash, she'll be happy. It's like a walk, but in a taxi. 🥰✨" One dog owner shared this heartbreaking recollection: "I did this exact thing and made it a priority to take her on her 'final walk' before leaving to the vet to put her down. 🥺"

In general, smaller dogs such as Chihuahuas and dachshunds are the longest living dog breeds, reaching up to 16 years of age, while bigger pooches like Rottweilers and Bernese Mountain dogs tend to be the dog breeds with the shortest lifespans, rarely living to be older than 10. Golden retrievers have a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years — though one golden named Augie reached an impressive 20 years and 11 months old, passing away in 2021, just a few weeks shy of her 21st birthday. A healthy diet, frequent exercise, regular vet visits, and wellness treatments such as hydrotherapy (check out this senior golden retriever who loves hydrotherapy) can help any dog live a longer and healthier life.

One viewer of the TikTok video shared a sentiment that any loving pet owner can surely relate to: "I have 2 goldens. I can't bear to think of life without them. We are so blessed to share our lives. It's never long enough. Your baby is so precious. I love [that] she can still get outside even if she needs a little help getting there."

Want to see more videos of senior dogs that will have you crying happy tears? Grab a handkerchief and check out this senior dog who was rescued after six years in a shelter and can't stop smiling, and this abandoned senior dog who has a complete turnaround after finding his new family.