Tears As Disabled Dog Who Can’t Use Back Legs Still Runs ‘In Her Dreams’

A TikTok video of a disabled dog appearing to dream of running again has melted the hearts of viewers.

Coco the German shepherd was napping on the couch when her owner noticed her hind legs—which have lost most of their mobility—start to twitch. It prompted the owner to start recording the clip, which was shared to the account @sarahbrice205 on Monday.

As the dream progresses, all of Coco’s legs can be seen moving back and forth as if she is running wild and free. It then appears as if the dog pauses to catch breath in the dream before resuming running.

The text overlaid on the video reads: “She may not be able to walk now and needs a wheelchair but in her dreams she’s still running.”

Newsweek reached out to @sarahbrice205 via TikTok for additional comment.

Coco has canine degenerative myelopathy, also known as DM. Similar to some forms of ALS in humans, DM is a spinal cord disease that can result in gradual paralysis in dogs, according to the American Kennel Club. It usually starts in the hind legs and moves forward.

Since Coco can’t use her back legs now, her family have bought her a doggy wheelchair to get around. She used to love running and playing fetch before being diagnosed with DM, and it seems Coco often dreams about these times.

In the video, the owner lets Coco run until her heart’s content. But then, toward the end of the clip, she gently places her hand on the dog’s back leg to show Coco that she is there for her.

The TikTok clip has touched people’s hearts and so far racked up over 9,800 views.

“In her dreams, she runs through fields of golden corn chasing bunnies and living her best life all over again,” one viewer commented.

Another wrote: “Run free every night in your dreams little one.”

A third person said: “My pup did this when he struggled to walk too, if only they could channel this part of their brain to walk strong again!!”

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