An elderly dog who lost her sight seven years ago found the freedom to run again when her owner brought her to the beach.

The 14-year-old Shih Tzu poodle cross Daisy went blind at 7 years old, and since then, she hasn't felt safe enough to run. But, in a TikTok clip shared on April 25 by her owner Faye Louise Dennis, Daisy found the confidence to run freely.

The video, which has been viewed more than 1.8 million times, shows the tiny dog taking off down the quiet strand with nothing in her way, the sun beginning to set and the sea glistening in the distance. Dennis captioned the video: "When your blind dog who hasn't run in years feels safe to at the beach."

Manicurist Dennis, 24, who lives in England, told Newsweek that her family hadn't seen their beloved pet run "in years, ever since she went blind and we lost our other dog Ramsey, who used to act as her own guide dog."

Dennis said: "She's a very slow walker, and sometimes we have to push her in a dog buggy if it's too much of a long walk for her. However, she seems to remember the feeling of the sand under her paws, and I think she pictures the beach in her mind and she knows that there won't be anything she can bump into.

"We were all in shock to see her run to say the least," Dennis added.

Caring for a pet who has lost their sight takes patience and love. The Humane Society of the United States says that an animal that has lost its vision "may feel vulnerable and anxious, so it's important to create a consistent routine and a safe, comfortable home environment."

The society adds that owners should stick to a schedule to help your pet know what to expect day-by-day; should put covers on sharp corners and block off stairs; and remove unexpected obstacles that a pet may accidentally run into.

"If your pet loses vision later in life, you can also experiment with a 'bumper' or 'halo' harness, which helps prevent them from bumping into objects," the organization says.

Dennis said that Daisy went blind at the age of 7, with cataracts building in both eyes. The family made the difficult decision to have the dog undergo an operation to have one eye removed, and for years, she "continued to live a happy life."

"But the other eye started to get worse. Therefore, this year, she had to have the other eye removed for her safety," Dennis added. "It's given her a new lease of life as she's no longer in pain and is one very happy doggy."

Daisy's joy at being able to run again hugely resonated with TikTok users, with one writing on the video: "I have a blind Frenchie baby and I get all wet eyed when he starts running in free space."

Another asked: "Can I just come on this app one time without crying?"

"Take him as much as possible please," a third user wrote, as another added: "Doggie wasn't running. Doggie was flyin'."

Dennis called the reaction on TikTok "amazing," telling Newsweek that Daisy is "such a sweetheart and it's been amazing to show how dogs are so resilient yet happy.

"We truly don't deserve them," she added.

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.