Internet users have been left sobbing after pet cam footage showing a golden retriever’s reaction to his owner leaving for work went viral.
For many pet owners, leaving their dog at home is the most heartbreaking part of the daily routine—and Leah Cordova’s recent TikTok video shows precisely why. The emotional footage, posted on her dog’s dedicated TikTok account (@golden.monmon), captures Monmon the 1‑year‑old golden retriever sitting patiently as Cordova gathered her belongings, kissed him goodbye, and then headed out the door. What makes the footage especially gut‑wrenching is the caption noting that he “stayed right there, still waiting” long after she had gone.
Cordova, 35, who resides in Brownsville, Texas, told Newsweek that she felt awful when she was leaving, but watching the footage filled her with “sadness and guilt.”
“Saying goodbye to him never gets easier, especially knowing I’m leaving him behind for long 12-hour work shifts,” Cordova said. “Every time I walk away, my chest feels heavy, especially when he is looking straight at me. No matter how many times I’ve done it, it never gets easier.”
The footage shows that Monmon didn’t budge whatsoever when his owner left, simply staring at the door with unwavering loyalty. For Cordova, leaving him behind each evening before her night shift is “the hardest part of going to work.”
Since the video was shared on January 20, it has gone viral with more than 851,000 views and over 123,300 likes at the time of writing.
“Watching the footage hit me hard. Seeing it made everything feel real, and it hurt more than I expected. My heart sank and I found myself tearing up at work. I just wanted to go back to give him a kiss and very tight hug,” Cordova continued.
Monmon stayed in place for around 30 seconds, all the while tilting his head and twitching his ears. Once he’d had enough, he started pacing around before eventually falling asleep by the door.
Most days, Monmon is only left alone for around 30 minutes between Cordova leaving and her partner getting home. The couple purposely arrange their shifts to ensure one is home with Monmon during the day and the other is with him at night.
How Long Is It Safe to Leave a Dog Alone?
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC) dogs shouldn’t be left alone for more than six to eight hours, as extended isolation can lead to stress and unmet bathroom needs. The AKC also recommends gradually training puppies to tolerate alone time, creating safe spaces like crates or penned areas, and providing positive associations—such as treat‑dispensing toys—when owners leave.
To help keep dogs calm when left alone, the AKC suggests offering mental enrichment, ensuring dogs get adequate exercise, and using desensitization techniques to reduce anxiety triggers. Recognizing early signs of stress and addressing them promptly can also help prevent long‑term separation‑related behaviors.
Since Cordova shared the video on TikTok, there’s been an outpouring of sympathy from fellow pet lovers who know exactly how difficult it is to leave. Although people may not need reminding, Cordova hopes it shows that dogs “have emotions like us” that should never be taken for granted.
“Dogs don’t live as long as we do, so it’s so important to make the most of the time we have with them,” Cordova told Newsweek. “We should give them the best life possible. Honestly, dogs save us in ways we don’t even realize through loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love, more than we ever truly save or give back.”
The emotional footage of the dog watching his owner leave has sparked more than 900 comments after being shared on TikTok.
One comment reads: “I hate seeing this so much, they are the kindest souls.”
Another Tiktok user wrote: “I’m gonna need you to quit your job.”
Another person replied: “You better get that baby a brother or sister!”
While one commenter said: “I hope they know we need to work to be able to buy them treats.”
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