What began as a chance encounter quickly turned into something more as a woman has shared footage of two abandoned German shepherds following her.
Mady Gilbert (@mmadisonggilbert) shared two clips that have since gone viral, racking up a combined total of more than 1.3 million views. In the first video, posted on March 4, Gilbert is seen walking while pushing her baby in a pushchair as the two dogs follow closely behind.
The next scene shows them sitting on her porch, alongside a caption that reads: “For those wondering they do great with my 1 year old and are extremely protective over our house. They don’t even bark at our cats!”
“Someone dumped these two babies and they’ve decided to call our place home,” she said in the video
On March 10, Gilbert posted another video with an update. She can be seen clapping her hands to encourage the dogs to come over. The German shepherds happily approach her, walking around her with their tails wagging as they greet her.
Gilbert revealed that she and her family had decided to keep the dogs, with the video earning almost 349,000 views at the time of writing.
In the comments on the initial post, Gilbert reassured viewers that she was trying to do the right thing. “I’m worried someone is looking for them! Animal control is coming to scan them now!” she told one user.
However, with no luck finding an owner—and after her husband, who is allergic to dogs, researched the situation—the family ultimately chose to take in the pair.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), most dogs and cats entering shelters come in as strays, accounting for 60 percent in 2024. In this case, the German shepherds followed Gilbert home themselves.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has highlighted what to do if you find a lost dog. The organization advises against rushing to grab a loose dog, noting they may be frightened, stressed or injured.
Instead, people should watch the dog’s body language, approach slowly from the side if the dog seems calm and allow the animal to sniff them. Direct eye contact should be avoided, and a collar should only be reached for once the dog appears comfortable.
The AKC also recommends keeping a found dog separate from other pets to avoid stress, illness or parasites, confining them to a separate room or fenced yard until they can be taken to a vet or shelter.
Checking for ID tags, scanning for a microchip, posting in local lost‑pet groups, contacting vets, shelters and animal control, and putting up flyers are also advised steps.
Viewers were quick to react emotionally to Gilbert’s update.
“So happy they found you,” one user wrote.
Another commented: “You will never regret it! These babies will be the BEST security for your family!”
A third added: “This makes my heart so happy.”
Newsweek has contacted @mmadisonggilbert for comment.