Derek Schmit has a beloved dog named Dexter, who enjoyed his playtime with a neighborhood friend, Doakes. Every afternoon, when Derek returned from work, Doakes would be eagerly waiting for their fun-filled sessions. However, one day, Doakes was mysteriously absent. Sadly, he had been taken by animal control, and upon contacting his family, they decided to leave him at the shelter.
This decision didn’t sit right with Derek. He took to TikTok to share his heartfelt reaction, and the video quickly gained traction, amassing over 8 million views. In the emotional clip, Derek walks through a bustling animal shelter until he finally halts in front of a cage. “When I discovered my neighbors abandoned their dog…” read the text overlay on his video. He also shared, “3 shelters and 4 phone calls later, I found the neighborhood dog and adopted him. He now has the life he truly deserves.”
@sunnyvale_dexter_doakes 3 shelters and 4 phone calls later. I found the neighborhood dog and adopted him, We gave him the life he deserves #dexterdoakes
♬ chrisklemens youre coming home with me – Chris Klemens
Derek further elaborated on why he chose to adopt Doakes by posting another video showcasing their first reunion. “This is the first moment Dexter and Doakes met,” he narrated. “Doakes used to wait for us every day after work, but then one day, he didn’t show up—animal control had picked him up. His family had the chance to pay to reclaim him, but they opted not to.”
In this engaging clip, the two dogs frolic joyfully together. Derek reflected on how adopting Doakes was “the best choice” he ever made, remarking, “Dexter and Doakes will play together forever now.” He also disclosed that Dexter had a similar backstory, having been abandoned before Derek rescued him from a shelter.
@sunnyvale_dexter_doakes Reply to @angelanetherton more about how we got doakes #dexterdoakes #storytime
♬ original sound – Dexter & Doakes
In a recent TikTok video, viewers can see the two dogs enjoying their time in the backyard. Derek expressed how lucky he feels to have found such wonderful companions, stating he “struck gold” with his furry friends. It’s clear that Doakes and Dexter share the same sentiment about him too!
Check out this amazing video by @sunnyvaletrailerpark! It’s all about #dexterdoakes and our furry friends in need. Truly a treasure! ♬ original sound – Sunnyvaletrailerpark
@sunnyvale_dexter_doakes I love this video #dexterdoakes #shelterdogs #struckgold
♬ original sound – Dexter & Doakes
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
