Family Plays With New Puppy Outside—Then Realize Something Is Watching Them

A family playing outside with their new puppy stopped in their tracks when they spotted something watching them from the edge of the yard: an abandoned dog quietly admiring them from afar.

Isabella Strickland told Newsweek she and her family had been running around with their new puppy —whom she recently drove eight hours to pick up as a surprise for her son—when her attention suddenly shifted. In an October 24 Instagram video posted to her account, @isabellastricklandd, she noticed a dog sitting at the edge of the driveway after being abandoned near their home. Almost instantly, worry set in.

The clip, which brought in over 3 million views, showed the dog lying at the edge of the driveway, ears perked as she watched the family play. Her expression made it clear she wanted to join;