A service dog named Forest had an unforgettable reunion with his favorite character on a recent Disney cruise.
In a video shared on TikTok by Forest’s owner, Ashton McGrady, the gentle golden retriever exudes joy as he rolls on the floor and cuddles with a costumed performer dressed as Pluto, while holding a miniature stuffed version of the famous dog in his mouth.
“Proof that distance won’t keep best friends apart ❤️🚢✨ we love those plutons!!!” McGrady captioned the video, which has been viewed more than 2 million times as of March 7.
The Nashville resident, who has had Forest since March 2020, tells PEOPLE the dog is “an absolute badass.”
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Forest and Pluto.
glittery gold/Tiktok
“I’ve always said I’ve never had a dog like him,” she says. “I don’t know if I’ll ever have a dog like him in the future. He’s just a very goofy, happy dog. And so loyal and loving.”
Forest’s fascination with Pluto began in 2021 when he first met the character at Disney World. The duo have had “many encounters” since then.
“Either we deliberately go looking for Pluto to greet him, or Pluto looks for us,” says McGrady. “Pluto came out of the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World to greet Forest because we were right in front, and he stopped to wave and blow kisses to Forest. It was wonderful.”
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McGrady and Forest’s recent excursion came after being selected for the Disney Creators Lab, which included a four-day trip to Disney Parks and a three-day cruise.
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Forest and Pluto.
shiny golden/Tik Tok
“We had a great time,” she says. “They were so accommodating and Forest loved it. He got to play in the water a bit on their private island, Castaway Cay. Obviously, we got to say hello to some characters. And he was a very good boy.”
When Forest interacted with Pluto on the cruise, McGrady says people came out of nearby stores to witness the cordial encounter.
“There were crew members who were completely in tears,” she says.
Forest, who now has five stuffed Pluto toys, received the latest addition to his collection – Pluto dressed as a sailor – shortly before he was reunited with the character.
“He took her to say goodbye and Pluto actually took the toy from him, put it in his mouth and was completely on the floor playing with it. It was the healthiest, cutest moment.”
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Forest and Pluto.
glittery gold/Tiktok
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McGrady says she’s gotten a “really good response” since posting the video on TikTok and Instagram.
“My whole platform is entertainment and education about service dogs and people with disabilities,” says McGrady. “It was a great opportunity to give them that sweet moment. But also, naturally, people are going to ask questions.”
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McGrady answered various questions from commentators, such as where dogs defecate on a cruise.
Cruises usually have a place on one of the decks set up for pets, she notes. Because her room had a veranda, she was able to request a potty box for Forest, which she says was much more convenient since he uses a wheelchair.
McGrady says her Forest cruise was an opportunity to address “all these things that surround pets and how they provide independence for their handlers.”
“I was able to have a lot of great educational moments and conversations,” she adds.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education