whitney houston

Most pet owners will have multiple pets in their lifetime, and the bonds between humans and their animals vary drastically. Some pets are equal parts annoying and adorable, some are nice companions, and some become beloved members of the family. But once in a while, a certain pet will come along that is qualitatively different. They're special. They get you. And the bond with that one special pet is one that people cherish and remember their whole lives.

One woman managed to capture the moment she knew her new Border Collie was her "soul dog" on video, and honestly, it couldn't be clearer. Victoria Lorenzo (@viccttoorriia on Tiktok) shared a video of her dog, Stryfe, sitting in the passenger seat of the car while Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" blares on the stereo. Victoria sings along at the top of her lungs, and as the chorus ramps up, Stryfe—whom she had just gotten—begins to howl along with her. The more Whitney and Victoria belt, the more the dog howls. And then comes the climax, which gets the good doggo barking and howling, all while looking back and forth between Victoria and the world whizzing by outside, as if she's lost in the music like any girl would be.

Victoria tells Upworthy that she met Stryfe at the animal shelter the same month she lost her childhood dog. "We locked eyes and I knew she was the one," she says. "My mom and I came back the next morning as soon as the shelter opened up to get her. She loves French fries, music, and chicken. She’s referred to as my 'shadow dog'—she’s always with me wherever I walk."

People loved seeing such a clear example of a dog and human bonding in real time, especially over an emotionally charged Whitney Houston song.

"She’s literally just a girl," wrote one person.

"When she gave a big howl and started barking on point for the drop 🤭🥰🥰😭😭😭😭 soul mates," wrote another.

"I just know she feels like she’s in a music video when she takes little breaks to look out the window😌💀," shared another.

People were a momentarily concerned when someone who claimed to be a vet chimed in, until they saw what the person's whole comment said: "Vet here. Please be careful when singing and playing loud music like this in front of your dog as it may cause her to leave you and audition and win The Voice."

Some people shared their own experiences with their "soul dog," the one pup that they shared a special bond and mutual adoration with.

That bond is not all in people's heads, either. According to Science, research from 2015 shows that when our dogs stare into our eyes, it launches the same hormone response in our bodies that makes us bond to our human babies. That gush of love when you gaze at your puppers? That's real. And the hormone rush happens to dogs, too (albeit to a lesser degree than in humans, which probably isn't too surprising.)

Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist (and dog owner) conducted a study of oxytocin levels in dogs and dog owners at Azabu University in Sagamihara, Japan. Oxytocin is nicknamed the "love hormone" because it's the one that's released when we fall in love. Kikusui's study found that both humans and dogs saw a significant increase in oxytocin levels as a result of gazing into each other's eyes.

"Mutual gazing had a profound effect on both the dogs and their owners," wrote David Grimm for Science. "Of the duos that had spent the greatest amount of time looking into each other's eyes, both male and female dogs experienced a 130% rise in oxytocin levels, and both male and female owners a 300% increase." Dogs and owners who didn't gaze into one another's eyes showed no release of oxytocin.

However, who needed a study to know that the bond some people have with their dog is legit? When that mutual love is there, it's usually pretty obvious, even from the outside. But for those lucky enough to experience it, a "soul dog" is a beautiful bond that transcends basic pet ownership. Thanks to Victoria and her crooning Stryfe for the perfect example.