The moment a young boy was surprised with his dream dog has been captured on video, and there's hardly a dry eye left on TikTok after viewers saw his sweet reaction.

For years, Leonardo, 9, had dreamed of getting a dog, and he pleaded with his parents to consider adding a four-legged friend to the family. But he didn't want just any dog—it needed to be a Saint Bernard. He loved the 1992 movie Beethoven, and when some family friends got a Saint Bernard puppy, he wanted one too.

Leonardo continued to ask about it, but little did he know that his dad, Stephen Rose, was already working on making his dream come true. He'd seen an ad online about Bella, a 17-month-old Saint Bernard, and he told Newsweek that he "knew she was meant to come home" with him straight away.

Bella's adoption was kept a secret so that Rose, who lives in Worcestershire, England, could surprise his son when he returned home from school. As soon as Leonardo walked through the door, he looked in disbelief before asking his dad, "Is that ours?" When his dad nodded, the 9-year-old was brought to tears. He'd finally gotten everything he ever wanted in Bella.

Rose said: "Our good friends have a Saint Bernard called Bert, who he fell in love with, and ever since meeting him, Leo hasn't stopped asking for a dog.

"We found Bella online and went to see her," he continued. "She was kept in a small area in the house and the garden. I had zero doubts about her meeting Leo. We told him we had a surprise, and I think he thought our friend's dog was visiting, but the moment he realized it wasn't, he was in pure disbelief."

The adorable footage showing Leonardo's reaction was shared on TikTok (@karlacosmeticsofficial) and has delighted thousands of users. In just days, the clip has generated over 529,800 views and more than 53,400 likes.

When they surprised Leonardo with the new addition, Rose wasn't expecting his son to burst into tears, as he's usually so laid-back. But he was very moved by the "raw emotion" that Leonardo displayed.

Since Bella was adopted on September 17, she has settled into her home extremely well. She loves going for walks with her family, snoozing on the couch and meeting new people who just want to give her attention. As for Leonardo, he absolutely adores the dog, and Rose says they're "already best friends."

He told Newsweek: "Leo has been amazing with her and so caring. He weighs her food, wipes her slobber after drinks and dries her paws. We can hear them playing at 6 a.m. as her tail bangs around the kitchen like a drum and Leo's laughter fills the room."

Rose had always liked the idea of adopting a rescue dog, but it hadn't worked out. They've been to shelters, but he said any dog they connected with was already reserved or not suitable for a family with young children.

The online reaction to the TikTok video has been overwhelmingly positive, and Rose loved seeing it resonate with so many people. After sharing the love that Leonardo and Bella have, he hopes it might encourage others to consider rescuing a dog in need of a home.

"I think it's amazing how this video has shown that there are loving dogs out there who need a home. It doesn't have to be a puppy to make a dream come true," he said.

In just a few days, the viral video has gained more than 430 comments on TikTok. Many social media users praised the family for giving Bella a loving forever home.

One comment reads: "This is the first time I've seen this with a rescue and I just feel like this is elite parenting."

Another TikToker wrote: "Thank you so much for giving a rescue a chance."

Another person said: "Need to see more of these two angels together."

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.