This Golden Retriever Waited for Her Favorite UPS Driver-What Happened Next Is Everything
When it comes to making friends with strangers, dogs make their own rules, and it's usually because they know who has the goods (aka treats, pets, and lots of attention)! Golden Retriever Abbey chose a UPS driver named Ed to be part of her inner circle, but when the longtime visitor retired, the sweet pup's heart was broken.
Now, thanks to the universe, Abbey's mom and Ed came together to pull a few strings, and Abbey got the ultimate surprise!
@abbeysgoldenlife Some stories don't end…they keep going #abbeyanded#ups#newbegginings#heartwarming#fyp
Still Falling For You - From "Bridget Jones's Baby" - Ellie Goulding
Abbey's social media love story didn't end when Ed retired. Despite the initial confusion when the darling Golden Retriever continued going outside to wait for her favorite driver, Mom says Ed handpicked Ron to be Abbey's new UPS friend because he knew Ron was "the perfect replacement!"
Ron seamlessly took over Ed's former duties and seems to understand the high honor of this role. That's a good thing because Abbey has been captivating fans with her love and devotion for Ed for a long time now. People have been clamoring for a "pupdate" since the last post in May, so this hits the spot!
As part of the daily routine with Ed, the excited pup always retrieved her "stuffie of the day" to show off, and in exchange, he'd give her as many treats as she wanted. It's a precious tradition for the history books.
There are a few posts giving more insight into why Abbey fell so hard for Ed to begin with. One video highlights all the adorable dogs on the former driver's route who also have a crush, proving there's something really special about him.
Looking back, Abbey was completely smitten, and I think Ed felt the same:
@abbeysgoldenlife Caught him just in time…he leaves for vacation tomorrow! I wuff you Ed!! #Abbeysgoldenlife#goldensoftiktok#dogsofttiktok#loveups#fyp
original sound - Muneeb
Dogs Remember People They Love
We already know dogs are highly intelligent and capable of having big feelings about the people they love. But in terms of remembering people who've left, experts say pups can have memories for years, sometimes for the rest of their lives.
Barri J. Morrison, DVM, tells PetMD that dogs have episodic and associative memory. Pups can recall events from the past, and then they connect experiences based on what they associate with those events.
Abbey learned to associate getting treats and feeling happy with seeing Ed, so it became a learned habit she reinforced every time, which became more memories.
Abbey and Ed have an amazing bond that transcends breed, species, space, and time. Those are some big shoes to fill, but if Ed gives his blessing to Ron, that's all Abbey-and the rest of us-needs!
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 9:55 AM.