Pull out your kleenex, you're going to need it. This dad recently lost his two dogs and was seemingly heartbroken over their death. His daughter wanted to surprise him for his birthday with a brand new puppy which brought him to tears. Watch the emotional surprise below.
Via KTVU
More than 13 years ago, James was going through a state of depression. Nothing would cheer him up. That's when, according to Jaleen, his wife Wanda brought him home Nemo, a Bichon Frise puppy. James instantly fell in love.
"He had an attachment to him. He leaned on him for anything and everything," says Jaleen of their relationship.
To James, Nemo was another one of his kids. His best friend.
After two years, the family decided Nemo needed company, so they brought home Lucy, another Bichon.
Both dogs, as is common with small breeds, suffered from a congenital heart defect.
Sadly, in late August, Lucy, 11, suffered a cardiac arrest that took her life. Two weeks later, things went from bad to worse.
Nemo's health was deteriorating. His lungs were filled with liquid and he had a hard time breathing. The Xuereb family had to make the difficult decision to put down their 13-year-old companion to stop his suffering.
"My dad was on edge," Jaleen recalls. "He didn't want to talk about [Lucy and Nemo]. He would leave the room if we did. Or he would start crying."
Meantime, the family put up photos and contemplated ways to make Xuereb feel better.
So Wanda decided it may be time for a new dog. She researched breeders, and found Fern Klapman-Flett's Bichon Lovers in Simcoe, Ontario.
In October, Wanda, and her daughters Jaleen and Jade, went to the breeder to meet a new litter.
"We went back in November to make our pick," Jaleen said. "When we walked through the door, one came up to us and kept pulling on my mom's pants."
It was number 25, and he kept coming to them and tugging at them.
"That's how we knew."
Next came the card, the heartfelt cry, and tiny Lumo.
Lumo's name is a testament to the family's fallen -- L-U for Lucy, M-O for Nemo -- the two whose deaths were too much to bear.
But thanks to Lumo, James can finally talk about Lucy and Nemo and smile.