She feared replacing her lost dog, but one Uber ride and a pup changed her heart forever

Uber rides are boring, as there isn't much excitement in a stranger driving you to your destination. But what if we told you that your ride comes with an adorable, four-legged travel buddy? Well, Timber, a sweet pup (@timbersgottaroll on TikTok), is one such companion who is always ready to hit the road along with his daddy-dearest. While the man is responsible for dropping the passengers safely to their desired locations, the dog is usually busy entertaining them. In one such heartfelt episode, a passenger who had recently lost her pet broke down in tears watching Timber, perhaps missing her own furry friend, and in that quiet moment, he not only understood her pain but also lifted her spirits. 

As usual, Timber was in the front seat, driving along with his father and waiting for their next passenger. As soon as a young girl named Daniella, stepped in, Timber hopped into the back seat, as if sensing her unspoken grief. At first, the girl looked thrilled, but moments later, she broke down in tears. The man driving the Uber looked back to ask if she was okay. "I just lost my golden," the girl said, still struggling to hold back tears. "Oh, I am so sorry, losing a pet is so hard," the Uber driver responded. Daniella had lost her puppy about two months ago, and seeing Timber possibly reminded her of the unbearable absence. Interestingly, by this time, Timber was already on the girl's lap, as if consoling her, and acknowledging her emotions. 

The Uber driver, who had also gone through a similar pain of losing a dog, shared about it with Daniella, hoping it would bring her some relief. Upon further interaction, the girl asked how long the man waited before getting another dog, to which the driver said, "About six months." Upon hearing this, Danielle opened up about her fear of unconsciously replacing her former dog by getting another one. The driver understood her dilemma and beautifully explained why getting another dog doesn't necessarily mean betraying her former pet. "You are never replacing them. You’re never losing that love for that dog, you’re just finding love in your heart for another," he said.

Just like Danielle, after losing an animal companion, over 50% of pet owners experience grief equivalent to or worse than losing a family member, as reported by Dog Trust. Around 40% of people, in fact, realized how deeply they're connected to their dogs only after their demise. Meanwhile, Timber's TikTok video went viral on social media with over 3 million views online. Many people, who were evidently overwhelmed by Timber and his way of comforting the grieving young girl, poured their hearts into the comments. For example, @rachellalicia commented, "Timber saw her and immediately said, 'Help is on the way, dear!'" Similarly, another user who goes by @toryanalise confessed, "I didn’t know which way this was going… But immediately, I cried when he jumped on the back. HE KNEW! He knew the weight on her heart. What a gorgeous baby!"

@illegal.horse praised Timber's human companion and wrote, "Everyone’s talking about Timber (who I also love), but mad props to you for being so open & willing to meet her where she’s at. You have a good heart." Reacting to the emotional video, @gabrielasbeautyboutique, a grieving pet parent, revealed, "I lost my dog 10 years ago. If I think about it too much, I still cry. I haven’t gotten another pet yet." @nataliepintal shared, "Side note… your grace, empathy, and patience in this moment say a lot about you. All dogs are great, but good humans are harder to find. I commend you!"

You can follow @timbersgottaroll on TikTok for more such wholesome pet-related stories.