The day I laid eyes on my first dog, Maggie, my heart melted. I felt happy, nervous, and excited all at the same time, which expressed itself through tears rolling down my face.

It's still one of the most precious memories of my life.

Sixteen years later, the dog I grew up with became old and sick, and my family and I had to say goodbye.

That was over a decade ago, but the sadness of that day is forever locked in my memory.

Losing Maggie changed me in ways I had not realized, but the people around me noticed. It took me years to finally move on.

Sometimes, when you're in grief, the thing you need is another fluff ball of joy looking for love. Shirley Lann knows this better than anyone....

About a month ago, this North Carolina grandmother lost her dog that she had for the past 14 years.

"She was extremely close with her since it was my late grandfather's dog too," Matthew McVey wrote on Twitter.

According to her grandson, Lann hasn't been the same since she lost her beloved doggo.

"My grandma has been pretty upset about the whole thing," McVey, told InsideEdition.com. "We realized her mood had changed."

To lift her spirits while recovering in a rehabilitation facility, Lann's daughter surprised her with a shelter dog named Sammy, and Lann's heartfelt reaction was all recorded on camera.

The viral video has thousands of views and hundreds of comments ever since it was posted on September 4.

Get your tissues ready, because this precious video will pull at your heartstrings.

"It was a complete surprise," McVey said. "It has brightened her mood and gives her something to look forward to when she gets out of rehab."

The reactions to the video are equally as sweet...

According to her grandson, Lann will be going home with her new pup soon: "She can't wait for him to live with her."

[H/T: People / Inside Edition]

Share this heartwarming story with a friend! What was your reaction when you were introduced to your new puppy?