Moving away to a different state is never easy.
There are so many things one needs to figure out. The town, the streets, the people.
So, when Arielle moved from Florida to North Carolina, she was fully aware that she would need some time to adjust. But luckily for her, there was one thing that made every unfamiliar place feel like home: her adorable pup, Gigi.
A Fresh Start
Her 5-year-old Chihuahua-Italian greyhound mix wasn’t just a pet.
She was the reason Arielle got out of bed on the hardest days, always by her side through every step of her cancer treatment. That’s why Arielle knew she had to return the love and take care of Gigi’s health too — so finding a vet in their new city was a must.
“When we got to the vet office, one of the techs came in, saying she needed to take a photo of Gigi,” Arielle said. “As she was taking the photo, Gigi gave her what I like to call her ‘iconic Gigi smile.’ Gigi smiles when she gets excited.”
A Smile Worthy Of Millions
But this wasn’t just a smile – it was a full-on, wide-eyed, teeth-baring expression that looked more like a cartoon than a dog. The vet tech burst out laughing. Arielle did, too.
Knowing how golden the photo was, the vet had to text Arielle the photo. A sweet, silly moment. Then, minutes later, the proud owner got Gigi’s official medical records—and at the top, right next to her information, was that exact photo. That adorable and joyful grin was now permanently attached to all her important info.
“The photo the vet took for Gigi’s medical records… They also said she was in perfect shape,” Arielle wrote when she shared the photo on TikTok.
It came as no surprise that the video became viral, gathering nearly two million likes and thousands of comments.
“I knew Gigi was special the moment I met her, so it’s amazing how so many other people are seeing that as well,” Arielle told Newsweek.
But internet fame aside, Arielle knew that Gigi really was one of the best things that had happened to her. And even though Gigi had been adopted, it was Arielle who had truly been rescued.
Being diagnosed with cancer isn’t something you are prepared for at 27. But having a loyal and adorable furry friend by your side sure makes it a lot better.
“I’m a cancer patient, so having her in my life has made my treatments much more bearable,” Arielle said. “Dogs are such a gift—we are so lucky to have them in our lives. I am forever grateful for my Gigi and will keep sharing how great she is with the world.”
Final Word
This truly is one of those stories that remind us just how big of an impact our furry friends have on our life.
No matter the difficulty we find ourselves in, they always find a way to bring light to our life – even if it is by just showing off their pearly white smile!
Thank you, Gigi. You are truly incredible.