Mom Captures Kids' Reactions As She Reveals They're Adopting Rescue Corgi

A mom of three captured the heartwarming moment they adopted a dog in need of a new home and forever family.

When Leah Braly's husband, Ben, asked her what she wanted for her 40th birthday this year, she told him “All I really want is to get a corgi.” Braly has always loved dogs-the family had a golden retriever called Teddy already at that point-but she knew her 10-year-old son, Deacon, was desperate to get a corgi.

“He watched a video with a corgi in it about five years ago, and, ever since, he has been absolutely obsessed,” Braly told Newsweek. “His room is full of corgi things and, every time we see one, we have to stop and say hello.”

Though Deacon had been “begging” his mom to get one for a long time, Braly said she wanted one just as much and knew her two daughters would also welcome the move. There was one important stipulation for Braly though: she wanted to adopt one. That was no easy feat.

How Many Corgis Are in US Animal Shelters?

Last year, personal injury firm Hartley Law analyzed more than 67,000 dog adoption listings on Petfinder from shelters and rescues across the 50 largest U.S. cities to identify the most-common breeds.

Corgis did not even feature in the top 20. Coupled with the fact a National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA) Shelter Project study found just 5 percent of shelter dogs are purebred, and it was clear the odds were stacked against Braly finding a rescue corgi.

But then something remarkable happened. A year into her search, Braly came across a Facebook post. It was created by a man reenlisting in the military who wanted to find a family to adopt his corgi, Hank.

It was perfect. “He wanted a family with kids and another dog in the home,” Braly said. Even so, she wanted to make sure he was the right fit, so she organized for her kids to meet him. That first encounter was perfect.

“We fell in love with Hank, and his owner felt we were exactly what he was looking for,” Braly added.

‘Genuine and Uplifting’

All of which paved the way for the magical moment captured in a video posted to TikTok under the handle @leahbraly, from the day Braly and the kids went to pick up Hank to take him home forever. The clip has already gone viral, amassing over 171,000 views, thanks largely to the excited reactions of Braly's kids.

As anyone who has ever had a dog as a child knows, the excitement of that first meeting is a special feeling. Maybe that's why it proved so popular. Braly said she believes there is a purity and innocence to the clip that also explains why it has gone down so well.

“I think the world often feels heavy and people are craving something genuine and uplifting,” she said. “There's something about watching pure, unfiltered joy, especially through the eyes of children that is contagious and hopeful.

Braly has certainly watched it back countless times since. “It warmed my heart to see my kids' reactions,” she said. The good news is that Hank has already settled right into family life and is definitely here to stay.

“It's like he's always been here,” she said. “He adores the kids and Teddy. Especially my son who has been obsessed with corgis for the last few years.

“We've had him for two weeks now, and the kids have said multiple times, ‘I can't believe we finally have a corgi!'”

Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 5:20 AM.