Is there a dog lover that doesn’t think dogs are the best? I don’t think so! I mean, they just get us in a way no one else does. They greet us with excitement when we come home. They snuggle on the couch. And they love, unconditionally!
Ritchie, a Great Pyrenees from Florida, definitely epitomizes the perfect pet. Ever since he had been adopted, he’s been nothing but a giant lovebug, showering his mom and dad with endless love and cuddles.
But one time, when Ritchie’s dad came back after being away for three months, Ritchie’s reaction didn’t go quite as expected.
Why?
Let’s just say that Ritchie had “other priorities.”
He Didn’t See It Coming
Reunions at the airport are pure emotion. But when a dog is involved, the level of heartwarming magic skyrockets, that’s for sure!
So, when Ritchie and his mom, Laura, arrived at Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida to welcome her ex and Ritchie’s co-parent, Vinny, they expected to catch that magic on video. Little did they know that Ritchie’s reaction would soon go viral, but for a completely different reason.
In a video posted on Ritchie’s official social media accounts, Laura captured the moment when Ritchie, well, didn’t quite act the way she expected.
The video begins with a hopeful text: “Seeing if my dog will recognize his dad after 3 months away.”
But when Ritchie spots his owner, the reunion was anything but what Laura and Vinny anticipated.
Ritchie slowly approached his dad. But instead of rushing toward him with excitement, the fluffy pup casually strolls past his owner and sniffs the neck pillow instead.
Vinny waited for his furry friend to show a little recognition, but all that happened was Ritchie proceeding to other people. Then, when Vinny finally whistles and calls him out, Ritchie finally realizes it’s his dad and rushes to his arms!
“It’s a Great Pyrenees thing… processing takes 3–5 business days,” Ritchie’s owners jokingly wrote in the video caption.
Before long, Ritchie’s “failed reunion” video exploded on both Instagram and TikTok. People laughed at Ritchie’s act, leaving hilarious reactions in the comment section.
“Straight up past dad and was like “let me acknowledge the masses that are here for me..lol,” one person wrote.
“POV the waiter with my order,” another added.
“He checked everyone out first and you were the last option,” the third person wrote.
Shared Custody Is Ritchie-Approved
For Laura and Vinny, sharing custody over Ritchie has been nothing but pure joy. Although it takes a lot of planning, patience, and understanding in terms of logistics, Ritchie’s owners would not have it any other way.
“Please normalize shared custody for pets. They would want this if they could talk,” Laura wrote on Instagram.
For Ritchie, his time between Laura and Vinny has allowed him to experience the love and care of both owners. Thanks to their arrangement, Ritchie has an amazing life. He travels, meets new friends, goes to the beach, has exciting adventures, and enjoys every second of it.
Ritchie’s case is an important reminder that pets, just like humans, benefit from stable, consistent relationships with both of their caretakers.