A rescue dog's heartwarming reaction to being taken out of the shelter for the day has gained millions of views on TikTok.

Anna Kate Talley shared the moment Sickle, a 65-pound mixed-breed dog, spent the day with her outside of the shelter.

In a video with over 1.6 million views, Sickle made her feelings known quickly as she instantly curled up with Talley on the couch in a long, sweet cuddle. In the text overlay, she wrote: "[I] took a dog out of the animal shelter for the day and this is how she thanked me. It's breaking my heart to take her back."

Sickle, estimated to be a little over a year old, is currently in the care of the CARE Humane Society in Alabama.

"Sickle came to us as a stray intake from the Auburn area. After completing her mandatory 7-day stray hold, she became available for adoption. She had been with us for nearly a month before her story gained attention on TikTok," Jenny Warren from the CARE Humane Shelter told Newsweek.

The adorable moment on TikTok soon caught attention far and wide, and commenters shared their reactions to the sweet dog cuddle.

"She is thinking she got rescued. I can't," wrote Kelly Jo Not Exotic. While Lady31 said: "Can you keep her?? She seems like yours!"

"Thank you for giving her a day of peace. It makes a difference. I know she is so thankful," Belle&Layla commented.

As well as some heartwarming comments, the viral video also sparked an outpouring of interest in adopting Sickle, with adoption applications flooding in from as far away as out of state.

The good news is, Sickle is currently with a foster-to-adopt family, who plan to finalize her adoption later this week. "The interest in Sickle has been extraordinary. We wish her and her potential family the very best," Warren said.

Despite Sickle's happy ending, there are still plenty of dogs looking for new forever homes across the country. In 2023, 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, up 4 percent when compared to 2022 intakes. At the end of 2023, 117,000 additional dogs and cats were in the animal sheltering system compared to the same time the year before.

Around 850,000 animals were euthanized in shelters in 2023, a rise of 15 percent when compared to 2022. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation.

Warren said: "While we are thrilled by the interest in Sickle and her potential adoption, it's a bittersweet reminder that many other wonderful dogs are still waiting for their forever homes. We hope this wave of attention helps raise awareness for the other amazing pets in our care."

Newsweek reached out to @annakatetalley via TikTok for comment.