Golden Retriever waits daily by the window, hoping every passing car will stop — owner says the heartbreak is 'beyond words'

Dogs are the purest souls. A pet owner witnessed a heartbreaking sight as she watched her pup quietly wait by the window every day. The woman shared a glimpse of her pet dog, Gracie, a Golden Retriever, peeping out the window with a somber expression on her face. She would perk up at every passing car, hoping someone special would return home, but it was all in vain. The owner, Becky, was not able to fully grasp her dog’s behavior until a vet visit offered clarity. A viral clip with 588,000 views was shared on her Instagram page, under @graciesgoldenmoments.

“Every day, she waits in the same spot,” the owner penned. The clip showed Gracie patiently sitting near the window, her eyes fixated on the distance. Her eyes lit up every time a vehicle passed by their house as she hoped her favorite human would return. The poor dog was waiting for Shawn, her dad, who had passed just four months prior. “The world has moved on, but her heart still holds onto the past,” Becky added in the September 14 post. She acknowledged that her beloved dog was holding onto her love for her late husband, who was never coming back home again.

“Waiting for his truck that will never come. She loved him in life…and somehow, she loves him even more in his absence.
As a love like that doesn’t understand ‘gone,’” a part of the post’s caption read. The owner admired the “loyal heart” of her dog, who refused to give up until her owner showed up. It was a difficult time for Becky, who was also grieving the loss alongside her dog. It was Gracie’s ritual to patiently wait by the window for her master to return from work. As soon as he did, she would grab a toy and run to the door to welcome Shawn. One day, he did not return, and it has been the same ever since.

During his funeral, Becky arranged for her dog to see her late husband. “She knew what was happening. You could just see the look on her face. It registered right away with her,” Becky told Newsweek. Hoping the funeral would provide closure, Gracie’s behavior worsened. She stopped eating and drinking for days and would cry and long for her human. The pet was on the verge of “giving up,” prompting the owner to take her to the vet. All medical reports came back clear until the vet explained that the dog might be grieving. That was when it struck Becky. She began force-feeding the poor pup to prevent her from starving herself. She felt for her poor dog but could only do so much to relieve her from the pain of loss.

They went on walks at the time Shawn would have returned to divert Gracie from the window-watching routine. It was "heartbreaking beyond what anyone would even imagine," but thankfully, Gracie got better. The couple had adopted Gracie during the pandemic after their other dog of 14 years had passed. Becky was the one with the idea, but the pup and her husband soon grew an inseparable bond that even death couldn’t keep apart. 

For more dog content, you can follow @graciesgoldenmoments on Instagram.