Dogs are very grounded in the present moment, which is perhaps why they can seemingly overcome any major obstacle that they face. And one golden retriever is in a wheelchair battling cancer couldn’t resist the urge to take a plunge in the pool – wheelchair and all.
The dog, appropriately named Lion, didn’t show any fear when he went charging for the poolside, despite the fact that he was battle cancer which had left him wheelchair-bound.
The lion-hearted 11-year-old pup lives in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, where his family owns and operates a bed and breakfast. He has a playmate in the form of another dog named Taiia. During a sunny day in January, Lion was caught on camera doing something bold.
The two dogs, Lion and Taiia, have their own account on Instagram, @goldentaiia, where their family will often post pictures of the two, along with videos. This particular video really got people smiling, as it featured Lion doing something that reminds us all to just be present in the moment.
Taiia was out in the back enjoying a swim in the family’s pool. Despite being wheelchair-bound and battle cancer, Lion did not let himself be deterred from partaking in the fun himself. The camera captured the moment that Lion went charging straight for the pool, despite a family member, Monica, trying to stop him.
But his determination won, and he went for it. He even ended up taking a poolside chair with him, since it was clear that nobody and nothing was going to stand in his way.
Monica stepped in and grabbed the chair knowing that it was the least she could do for this determined dog. And it was heartwarming to watch for all those involved since, despite his need for a wheelchair, it turned out the Lion was still a strong swimmer.
He even managed to get himself loose from his wheelchair once he was in the water, and easily joined Taiia for a swim together.
When the video was uploaded to their Instagram, the dogs’ followers quickly fell in love with the video, making it go viral. It received plenty of likes as well as thousands of comments.
Lion might not have realized it, but he certainly shared an important lesson with the world that no matter what challenges you may be facing, you can always take a moment to just enjoy your surroundings and be in the present.
You can watch the adorable video below:
