In a viral video a woman from the Netherlands shared her bedtime routine with her four adopted pets, melting the hearts of social media users.
The clip, shared on Sunday under the username @ourlifewithstrays, shows the poster, 31-year-old Pearl, lying in bed surrounded by her pets, all sleeping on top of or her, like one big furry family.
“Pov: you adopt 2 dumped cats and 2 stray dogs that nobody wanted, and now your nights look like this,” reads layover text in the clip.
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Pearl explained that she always had pets growing up, so she knew when she married her husband that she would want to have lots of fur-babies in her family.
“From the start, we were determined to adopt because we wanted to give a home to animals in desperate need,” she said, adding that the sole purpose of her TikTok account is to show people how wonderful life can be with rescue pets, and how much beauty and joy they bring to her life on a daily basis.
“One night, we came across Shadow and Luna’s adoption appeal. They had been abandoned as kittens and found in a box on the streets. Just a week later, we brought them home. Luna adjusted quickly, showing her cuddly and playful side. Shadow, however, was very anxious.
“We took things slowly with her, and after a few months, we could pet her with just one finger. Over time, she has grown more trusting; though we still can’t pick her up, she now cuddles with us at night and seeks out affection on her terms, which is perfectly fine to us.”
When Pearl and her husband bought their own home a few years ago, they decided it was finally time to get a dog too, and of course it had to be a rescue.
“That’s when we saw Nova’s adoption appeal; it was love at first sight. She was a stray roaming the streets of Romania. Nova was shy and afraid, particularly of men, but with time, she bonded with us deeply. Today, she and my husband are inseparable.
“What’s truly special is the bond between Shadow, our anxious cat, and Nova. Despite being different species, they gravitate toward each other, offering comfort and companionship. Shadow often cuddles with Nova and sleeps on her during cold nights.”
Because they knew that Nova thrived in the company of other dogs, probably because she grew up as part of a street pack, they soon adopted another dog, a rescue from the streets just like their sweet Nova.
“From the moment [Indie] joined our family, she was a perfect fit. Mischievous and playful like Luna, she encourages both Nova and Shadow to come out of their shells. Nova and Indie bonded instantly and have been inseparable ever since.
“We are very happy with the harmony in our home right now, but we hope to give more pets in need a loving home in the future.”