The Cosmic Watchdog

This man’s selfless act has left people in tears.

We all love our furry friends, but one man has warmed the hearts of social media users after he reached out to a stranger to offer his two English bulldogs a selfless gesture and got more than he bargained for when their meeting escalated into a touching moment.

Photographer Mark regularly shares videos where he approaches dog walkers and asks if they’d like free professional photographs of their animal. If they say yes, he then snaps some stunning shots of the dogs running and playing and shares the video footage and the final photos online.

Mark’s kind gestures are always touching, but one video he shared recently has gone viral after the stranger he approached began telling him all about his two dogs and how they have helped him keep going after tragically losing his wife and daughter.

The video, shared on Instagram, began with Mark telling the man his English bulldogs were “lovely”, which received heartfelt thanks from the man.

When Mark asked the man if he’d like free pictures of his dogs, the man was touched. He explained that he is unable to take his own pictures because his phone is too old – and gave a heartbreaking reason why he hasn’t upgraded it.

He said: “My phone’s only an old-fashioned one. I live in the old-fashioned realm. I lost my wife and my little girl to cancer, I bought a bench in the park down there [for them], but she bought me this phone before she died. It’s only old-fashioned.”

The man’s story didn’t stop there, as he then told Mark about a hugely charitable deed he had done many years ago when he walked part of the Great Wall of China to raise money for terminally ill children.

He added: “I walked the Wall of China a long time ago for terminally ill children, for Acorn’s Hospice. Although we don’t walk all of it, you know. I raised nearly £5,000 for terminally ill children.”

The man then apologised for telling Mark his “life story”, and when Mark told him it wasn’t a problem, he added: “You know, when I talk to people like you, I know there’s hope in the world.”

In the video’s caption, Mark said he was blown away by how “positive” the man was “despite everything he’s been through”. And commenters were deeply moved by the pair’s conversation.

The man’s other daughter even commented on the video, stating: “Thank you everyone for all your lovely comments. I’m the daughter of the man in the video and (Auntie) to King and Lucy. Mark, your pictures are absolutely stunning. My dad will get to see them and treasure them. Once again, thank you, we love them!”

Another commenter wrote: “Amazing man. People don’t realise how important dogs are to some of us. They are his family.”

Someone else also posted: “This has warmed my heart. What a lovely man, and you Mark, are amazing.”