Adopting a pet often means giving them the chance to experience life in a completely new way. Even everyday moments, such as having a safe bed, celebrating a birthday, or playing with toys, can feel extraordinary when you’re rescuing animals. A viral video on Instagram shows how one man’s decision to bring home an adopted dog turned into a story of friendship, family, and second chances.
Instagram video shows deaf dog reacting to all the firsts
James Coburn, from Boston, Massachusetts, shared an emotional video on his Instagram page, @make.life.happen, documenting his life with two deaf rescue dogs. The clip, posted on June 28, tells the story of Poundcake, the first pup he adopted. Onscreen captions walk viewers through Poundcake’s early days at home.
One scene shows the dog peacefully resting beside Coburn, while another captures him being surprised with toys of his own. These simple moments carried enormous meaning for a pet experiencing the comforts of a home for the first time. Coburn even went as far as to throw Poundcake a birthday party.
But despite the love and attention, Poundcake often seemed lonely. That’s when Coburn decided it was time to bring another companion into their lives.
The video then takes viewers on a trip to New York, where Poundcake, sitting in the backseat of the car, has no idea that his world is about to change. Moments later, the camera reveals Milkshake Marie, another deaf rescue pup, joining the family. The joy of the two meeting for the first time is captured in touching clips that show them quickly bonding, playing together, and forming an inseparable friendship.
As the story continues, Coburn reveals yet another twist. His growing household welcomed a baby, and both dogs adapted to their new role as protective siblings. In a surprising turn, Coburn even discovered that Milkshake had a lost daughter, who was later reunited with her mother.
The video received an overwhelming response with nearly 7 million views and more than 400K likes, as of today. In the post’s caption, Coburn reminded followers of the larger message. “When you take them home, you give them a second chance at life,” he wrote. “More often than not, they rescue us, not the other way around.”
