Teen boy cries happy tears after getting a dog — then he finds out it's a surprise from his late dad
A dying father had thought of the best gift for his son to be presented a week after his passing. Joe Kavaluskis was suffering from a terminal disease and was already considering the well-being of his family after his death. His son, Logan, wanted a puppy all his life, and the 47-year-old father figured it was time he had one. Therefore, on his 13th birthday, Logan received the greatest surprise of his life from his late father, per Inside Edition (@InsideEdition) on YouTube.
Kavaluskis fought a nearly decade-long battle with myeloma, a rare blood cancer, and passed away on January 8, 2020. A father to two sons, he remained concerned about them even in his final moments of life. He told his wife, Melanie, to buy Logan a puppy, something he had always wanted. The family never had pet dogs because Kavaluskis was allergic to dogs. But that did not stop their son, Logan, from being a pet owner. As a child, he owned hermit crabs and lizards and later bought a stuffed Boston terrier, named him Puppers, that he would take around everywhere. Hence, the father knew a getting a pet dog after his death would lift the spirits in his home and offer comfort.
“He said, 'Just promise that when I do pass, that you get Logan a puppy as soon as you can, because I know that it will bring him a lot of comfort,’” Melanie told the outlet. Keeping her late husband’s promise, Melanie told Logan that they were driving to Midland to get a puppy. She kept it a secret until they got the puppy. On their way back home, Logan’s cousin, Jon, revealed, "That's from your dad. That's your dog.” Logan was in disbelief. The cousin added, “Dad wanted you to have a puppy.” The reality had only sunk in. Logan glanced at the dog sitting on his lap and tried to accept his good fortune. "Words can't explain the shock. I had to ask 'really?' again, just to make sure it was my dog and not a horrid prank,” the 13-year-old boy admitted to WZZM13.
They named the dog Indy, who was a great fit in the family. Logan acknowledged that the pet dog fit their needs and did not leave any member behind with its cuddles. “Cuddles with my mom and my brother and plays with me, unless I want him to relax," he said. Meanwhile, Melanie, a happy mother, appreciated her late husband’s thoughtfulness. "He got it right. This was amazing. This gift is just perfect. Perfect timing," she noted. Fox 17 WXMI also covered the beautiful story on YouTube.
According to a WebMD report, pets have immense mood-boosting effects. Their presence and companionship are known to reduce anxiety and stress levels in humans. Moreover, a pet forces the owner to follow a healthy routine of diet, sleep, and self-care. Being around pets significantly lowers the cortisol levels, a stress hormone, thus promoting better mental health and positivity. While getting a pet is exciting, it is also important to consider factors like space, age, exercise, and cost for the animal’s well-being.