Squealing Dog Reunited With Owner in Tearful Resurfaced Clip

A heartwarming video that shows the moment an excited, squealing dog was reunited with its owner resurfaced online over the weekend and left some commenters in tears.

The viral clip, originally from 2020, was reposted to Twitter on Friday by Jess (@jess_asli). So far, it has amassed more than 6 million views and over 300,000 likes, while illustrating the strong bonds often formed between dogs and their owners.

Speaking to radio station KWYY, Kirstin Kapp said that her dog Liddie went missing after running away from a friend's home.

"We figured it would be kind of cool to have some puppies, so I sent her to my friend's house who had a gorgeous, gorgeous stud," she explained. One morning, the friend let the dogs out so that they could go to the bathroom and both "took off."

"About 10 minutes later they found the stud, but they did not find Liddie," said Kapp.

In the days and weeks that followed, Kapp called shelters, contacted the police and even placed an ad in a local newspaper, she told KWYY. She also made several Facebook posts and finally, after 21 days, she was contacted by a couple who'd found Liddie.

The reunion footage shows an excited Liddie jumping into Kapp's arms the second they are reunited at a local shelter. Everyone in attendance can be heard saying, "Awe" as Liddie squeals and cries in Kapp's arms. Kapp, who is obviously overjoyed by the reunion, eventually drops to her knees and begins to cry as Liddie bombards her with hugs and kisses.

"That's just the bond that we have," Kapp told KWYY.

As it turns out, many dogs share strong bonds with their human caretakers.

A 2015 study in Japan found that when "humans and dogs stare into each other's eyes, they each register a spike of the so-called 'love drug,' oxytocin," according to ABC Australia, adding that bursts of this molecule "appears to help facilitate bonding."

In a 2020 study by Canine Cottages, several dogs were outfitted with heart rate monitors to show what gets them excited. The study found that the dogs' heart rates increased by 46 percent on average after being told, "I love you," by their owners. Additionally, dogs' heart rates decreased by about 22 percent when being cuddled by their owners.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Shannon Keary, a campaign manager at Canine Cottages, said: "It's amazing to see that our dogs' heart rates increase when they are told they are loved, showing excitement, and decreases when having cuddles, showing contentedness...from this data, we can now officially say that our dogs really do love us!"

Jess' commenters loved watching Kapp's and Liddie's emotional reunion.

"Jess, that is one the best, most heartwarming videos I have ever seen. Thank you so very much for sharing," tweeted ronle.

"I can't stop watching this," wrote I Am Lilithfair.

Diana Reisenger added: "I tear up every time I watch this!"