Vibo Valentia is an Italian town in the Calabria region of southern Italy with less than 40,000 inhabitants.

In a video captured by a local woman named Sabrina La Grotteria, who uploaded it to Facebook and YouTube in 2018, we can see an older gentleman and his dog returning from a walk around town.

The dog is disabled and his owner was pushing him around on a cart, even using a makeshift harness to lift him off when needed. It was a sweet moment between two best friends and the video quickly earned tens of thousands of views on YouTube.

While the video quality isn’t great, it’s easy to see what’s going on and to be reminded of just how much we care for our pets.

Of course, we know that when things go viral, people find a way to get the whole story, so The Dodo got in touch with her that year.

“I was so moved that I decided to post it on Facebook,” Grotteria told The Dodo.

There, it has been viewed over 1 million times.

Local Italian news outlets tracked her down as well – and then they went looking for the man and his dog to learn their backstory. Headlines around the country drew attention to the moving gesture recorded by a total stranger.

il Vibonese was the first to get in touch with Tonino Vitale and learn more about his 13-year-old labrador named Dylan.

It seems that Dylan had lost the ability to use his limbs due to arthritis and had a weak heart and suffered from shortness of breath after even mild exertion.

Vitale has taken him for a “walk” like this every day so he can still get outside.

He even hoists him up when the dog has to defecate.

Vitale says it’s not a big deal – the only weird people are the ones who would mistreat such an animal.

He told the news outlet (in translation):

“I was surprised by all the hype that was after that video ended on Facebook. For me it is normal, the abnormal are those who have no love for animals, those who think that a puppy is a toy to give to children. Abnormal are those who use violence. I’m normal. And I didn’t want to remove that video, just as I agree to release this interview, just because I hope to reach those who don’t have this sensitivity.”

Dylan has provided Vitale and his wife with plenty of comfort over the years and he said they wanted to pay him back by making his final days as easy and enjoyable as possible.

The sweet pup even became a bit of a celebrity around town after the video went viral.

He was also gifted with a much nicer device that allowed him to get around more easily, a moment his original videographer captured in a Facebook photo two years ago.

But Dylan was already quite old at that point and he passed away not long after all the hoopla.

At least his final years were spent being much loved and even recognized for the amount of affection his owner had towards him.

Be sure to scroll down below to see the original video that started it all.

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Source: Sabrina La Grotteria via YouTube, Italy Magazine, The Dodo, il Vibonese, LaC via YouTube