Adopting a pet is a cause for celebration, but few new pet parents are quite as excited as New England photographer @donsodigital. This proud papa couldn’t stop gushing about his fur son in the most wholesome November 22 TikTok video—and he hadn’t even picked the dog up from the shelter yet!
Love at first sight doesn’t even begin to describe the relationship between this American Staffordshire Terrier and his new dog dad. Even though the rescue dog, named Donatello Espresso Coronado, was quite nervous during his freedom ride from the shelter, his hesitation melted away as soon as the duo got home.
Pass the tissues, please! It could make any pet parent teary-eyed to see just how excited @donsodigital is to be a dog dad. Every dog deserves to be greeted with this kind of joy and love.
Commenter @smk7482 wasn’t the only one to notice how “Dad jokes came naturally after [the dog dad] picked up [his] son.” His quip about the rescue dog ‘not driving’ actually made me laugh out loud, though I was a little offended that the barista didn’t laugh, too.
Related: Scruffy Rescue Dog ‘Warms Up’ To New Foster Mom With the Most Chaotic Affection
Clearly, this dog dad knew exactly what he was doing when he brought Donatello for a Pup Cup. A treat is a great way to give any dog positive reinforcement, and it’s also a delicious way to celebrate a special occasion like this pup’s adoption!
Viewers identified a few specific moments when Donatello truly let his guard down, but if you ask me, the biggest change happened when he saw his new toys. He went from curious to excited in a matter of seconds! If this is a preview of what’s to come, this rescue Pittie and his dad are going to be two very happy campers.
Donatello Decompressing
As several commenters reminded the new dog dad, rescue dogs can take a few days (or even longer) to decompress in their new homes. Then, their true colors begin to shine! Judging from the duo’s adorable update videos, though, it seems like this first step couldn’t be going any better.
These guys are two peas in a pod! Donatello already seems so relaxed and grateful to be at home, but this is only the beginning of their adventures together. As they learn more about one another, this rescue dog and his dad will build an irreplaceable bond. I can’t wait to see what future adventures (and TikTok videos) their lives hold!
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This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Nov 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.