A Fife woman who saw video of her reunion with her pet golden retriever go viral says she is delighted so many people were cheered up by her “little star”.
Tens of millions of people have now watched the heartwarming footage of Sandy sensing owner Maria Maciocia’s return before bounding up the stairs to smother her in cuddles and kisses.
Maria now stays in the United States and it was the first time Sandy had seen her in seven months.
The tear-jerking footage of the moment has been watched over 30 million times online and has even prompted interest from American television shows.
Fitness and life coach Maria, who has returned from her home in the US to visit her parents in Markinch, said: “I’m taken aback by the reaction. I put the video on my public Facebook page, where I’ve blogged about overcoming depression, and all of a sudden it was everywhere.
“The internet is so powerful. I’ve had calls from a couple of American TV shows and he’s been featured in all sorts of newspapers. He’ll be on Ellen DeGeneres next!
Maria, who has blogged about personal problems in her life, said it was a “very emotional” reunion with her best friend who she said had been with her through thick and thin.
She hid while Sandy was outside and said: “I didn’t think he was going to be able to smell me but he knew as soon as he came in that something was different. Then he smelled my bag on the stairs and knew I was somewhere.”
Maria bought Sandy as a puppy in Mexico and he lived with her and her husband in California.
When Maria fled from her marriage, Sandy went with her.
As she is no longer able to provide the care he needs, Sandy has stayed with Max and Dawn but Maria speaks to him daily when she calls on Skype and has been making the most of her week with her beloved pooch before she returns to the US.
She said: “He means a lot to me because I left a very abusive marriage and he went through the emotions with me.
“When I was very despressed and couldn’t get out of bed, he gave me a reason to be here.
“His character is amazing. He’s very in tune with people’s emotions and can tell when you are upset.”