Any dog owner has experienced the joy of being greeted at the front door after a day out of the house…or, if we’re being honest, after a 30-minute trip running errands, or even a quick jog around the block. No matter how much time actually passes, our fur babies love to excitedly remind us how much they’ve missed us, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

When the time spent apart is more significant, though, as it is for the men and women who serve our country, these reunions become even more emotionally driven. We’ve all seen videos of soldiers being greeted by their dogs upon returning home after a long time away. Personally, these are always tear-jerkers…it’s just so beautiful to see these animals seem to genuinely realize the significance of having their brave humans home.

The video below follows a similar pattern of heartwarming adorableness, with one exception. The dog greeting the returning soldier is a 3-legged pup named Cocoa! It makes it even more beautiful to see this sweet girl, totally oblivious to her own shortcomings, overjoyed to be reunited with her owner.

Such a beautiful moment. Dogs truly do live in the moment, and they excitedly savor every single one…something many of us humans can learn from! Has your dog ever greeted you with this kind of enthusiasm after a long stretch of time? Share in the comments!