Meet Cheddar, a 15-year-old golden retriever who simply can’t contain his excitement whenever he sees his favorite person.
His joy is infectious, his tail wags uncontrollably, and his eyes light up with pure delight.
But surprisingly, his favorite person isn’t a member of his human family.
Cheddar’s heart belongs to his neighbor, Jean.
“He just loves her and I can’t explain why. I really don’t know,” admits Cheddar’s human mom, Shelley Vassall.
The bond between Cheddar and Jean is so strong that they have become daily companions.
“We started going to see her just about every single day. How he took to her, I mean, it was instantaneous. She babysits when we need a babysitter. When we leave her house he just wants to stay there,” Shelley shares.
Cheddar’s story began when Shelley heard about an 8-year-old golden retriever who was about to be given up.
She decided to foster him, despite her family’s concerns about getting attached to a senior dog who might not be around for long. But just two days into fostering, they knew they had to adopt him.
“When we met Cheddar that kind of all went out the window. Even my husband’s like I know he’s about to turn 8, but it didn’t matter. It was about Cheddar it wasn’t about his age. He’s a big dog. Cheddar’s just beautiful. He has a beautiful personality,” Shelley recalls.
Initially, Cheddar was a bit shy and didn’t show much interest in toys or activities.
But then, Cheddar met Jean, and everything changed.
“We sit outside and he just wants to sit next to her and he just wants all the attention from her. He just wants her to pet him,” Shelley says.
Cheddar’s affection for Jean is so profound that he even takes himself on walks to her house, leash in mouth, ready for another day of companionship.
At Jean’s house, Cheddar makes himself right at home, often jumping up on her outdoor couch to snuggle up with her.
“She’s helped him so much. I think it’s given him more confidence,” Shelley observes. “He can be very timid and sort of afraid of his own shadow. But he’s quite bold when he goes over there.”
Cheddar also has a soft spot for the family’s cleaning lady, Cheryl.
“There are sounds that come out of him that we have never heard him make before,” Shelley says. “It almost sounds like he’s in pain, he’s so happy.”
But even Cheryl can’t compete with Jean in Cheddar’s heart.
“It’s just about her [Jean]. He just wants to be with her. She’s his favorite who now has become our friend,” Shelley says. “All dogs are special and Cheddar is just that. If he was a human being, he would be just really kind. He’s the most gentle soul. It’s just a joy to be around him.”
Cheddar’s heartwarming story has touched more than 2 million people on YouTube, showcasing the beautiful friendship between him and Jean.
After a long and full life, Cheddar has sadly passed over the rainbow bridge. This sweet boy lived a wonderful life, and his memory will live on in his family and Jean.
Check out Chedddar’s full story in the video below!
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