Uber driver asked three passengers if they were scared of dogs — then earned a 5-star rating with his surprising move

Most Uber rides follow a familiar routine: a greeting, a quiet drive, and a quick drop-off. But every so often, something unexpected turns a normal trip into a story worth remembering. That’s exactly what happened when one Uber driver asked three passengers a simple question that caught them off guard. He asked if they were scared of dogs and then earned a 5-star rating with his unexpected but adorable move. 

As reported by Newsweek, TikTok user Thomas "Blysk" Kopankiewicz shared the moment in a video posted on August 23, 2025, to his account @heythomask. Right after getting picked up, the driver turned to the group and asked if they were scared of dogs. Not knowing what to expect, they replied no. Moments later, the driver reached toward the front seat and handed over his small dog, Sheila. “We were all just excited to be honest,” Kopankiewicz said. “We were luckily all pet lovers and no allergies.”

The driver explained that Sheila gets nervous on the highway and feels better with company. The group quickly welcomed her, and the little dog made herself comfortable in one of the passenger’s laps. They spent the ride laughing and petting her, calling it the best surprise of their day. “I think she was just plotting to get some cuddles while her owner drives,” Kopankiewicz joked. Sweet and calm, Sheila seemed to enjoy every second of the attention, and in return, the passengers happily gave their driver a perfect 5-star rating.

According to Uber’s website, riders can request Uber Pet trips, which allow one animal, such as a dog or cat, to travel with them, regardless of breed or size. Drivers using the app are also allowed to bring their own pets or service animals along, as long as they continue to drive safely. If a rider ever feels unsafe or uncomfortable, Uber encourages them to report it through the app. But in this case, there were no complaints. In the video’s onscreen texts, Kopankiewicz summed up the experience with a smile, “POV: your Uber driver randomly asks if you're scared of dogs. You tell him, 'no'? He picks up Sheila from the front seat and just hands it to you cause she’s scared of the highway.” He also joked in the caption, "A part of me thinks it's just an excuse for Sheila to get pets..."

Naturally, the clip instantly went viral with over 1.2 million views since being posted online. Many users couldn’t contain their joy over the overwhelming cuteness and flooded the comment section with warm messages. @themerrymeri exclaimed, "Oh my God, Sheila is the cutest dollop of mashed potato!" @llcoolc83 wrote, "There needs to be a pet passenger option on Uber. That's the one I'm picking always." @mikkay456 commented, trying to understand the reason behind Sheila being scared of the highway, "I wonder if they've been in a car accident before? My dog hates car rides, but just as long as he's in his dog seat, he's fine. A guy hit us cause he was on his phone while we stopped at a red light." 

For more wholesome dog content, follow @heythomask on TikTok.