A golden retriever showed a heartbreaking response after realizing his mom’s foster dog had been adopted.

Emily Malmstrom shared a TikTok video under the username catmom214,capturing the moment her dog Jolene reacted as her foster companion,Phoenix,left for a new forever home.

Foster caregivers are essential in helping rescue dogs find permanent families.A stay in foster care lets a dog unwind in a calm,home-like setting,away from the busy shelter environment.It’s an opportunity to receive one-on-one attention from a caregiver.A 2018 study in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Sciencefound that just 15 minutes of individual petting can significantly improve a shelter dog’s wellbeing.

Malmstrom has been fostering dogs for a few years.“I started fostering in early 2023,”she told Newsweek.“The year before,I adopted an 11-year-old pit bull named Bunny from a foster-based rescue and stayed in touch with her foster mom.After seeing how much fun fostering looked and how gentle Bunny was,I gave it a try and loved it.When Bunny passed away in fall 2023,I knew I wanted to honor her life by continuing to foster from the rescue that saved her.”

Not long after,Jolene entered Malmstrom’s life—first as a foster,and later as a permanent member of the family.“Before adopting her,I was nervous because she was a very energetic,spirited dog,and I worried I might not be able to keep fostering,”Malmstrom said.“But I adopted her anyway,gave fostering a chance,and she was absolutely made for this.”

Since then,Jolene has become a huge help in making foster dogs feel at home.“She just knows exactly what they need and meets them at their level,”Malmstrom explained.“She’s gentle and patient with the shy ones,and playful when they’re ready.”

Jolene often grows attached to the foster dogs that come through their home.That was especially true with Malmstrom’s latest foster,Phoenix.“She was an 8-year-old from Texas,and the two of them clicked right away,”Malmstrom said.“They had really similar play styles.”

Malmstrom and Jolene go on long walks almost every morning—close to three miles.Most foster dogs can’t or don’t want to join,but Phoenix was different.“Phoenix loved the walks,and I think that’s how they bonded the most,”Malmstrom shared.“Every morning they walked side by side as if they’d been doing it their whole lives.”

For 13 days,Jolene and Phoenix enjoyed each other’s company.Then came the happy news:Phoenix had been adopted.“Phoenix was one of my quickest adoptions—usually my fosters stay about a month,”said Malmstrom.While wonderful for Phoenix,the news was tough on Jolene,who suddenly found herself without her new best friend.

Though she’d said goodbye to foster dogs many times before,this felt different.“By now,I think Jolene understands when I come home without her friends,so we have a little routine to help her feel better—but she definitely missed Phoenix,”Malmstrom noted.“I usually send fosters off with their favorite toys,a blanket,treats,and so on to ease their transition,but I also keep something that smells like them for Jolene.It comforts her.”

Even so,when Malmstrom got ready for her usual morning walk with Jolene,something happened that suggested her golden retriever was struggling with Phoenix’s absence.“I had a big walk planned,but after Jolene went potty,she turned straight back toward the house,”Malmstrom said.“Part of me thinks she didn’t want to walk without her friend.”

Another sign came when Malmstrom went to take down Phoenix’s crate and found Jolene sitting inside,sniffing the blanket for traces of her friend’s fading scent.Malmstrom captured that tender,sad moment in the TikTok video.

As heart-wrenching as it was,the good news is that Jolene has since returned to her cheerful,adventurous self—and already has a new foster friend to care for.“We picked up a new companion for her last night,and Jolene is already working hard to win her over,”Malmstrom said.