A woman out to run errands came home with a little more than she bargained for, but to the internet’s surprise, it came with no price tag.
Jarnell Garland, known on TikTok as @bakingitpretty, shared in a Monday video that reached over 8 million views and 1.2 million likes that she left home to buy batteries. Instead, she brought home a French bulldog. As she drove through the parking lot, she spotted a man with the car truck open. He set up a doggy gate filled with Frenchies, along with a sign that read “Free” and “Free to a loving home.”
Garland couldn’t believe her eyes as this popular dog breed typically comes with a hefty price tag. Depending on where you purchase a Frenchie, they can range from $1,500 to $3,500, according to an article on Dogster; however, adopting is usually significantly cheaper.
“He didn’t give a specific reason other than he wanted them to go to a loving, caring home,” Garland told Newsweek.
That’s when her “impulsive personality took over,” as she wrote in the video’s caption. The next thing she knew, her new dog was sitting in the back seat, and they were on the way home.
In the clip, the dog looks worried. But soon after, he settled down, realizing he was in a safe and loving home. He has since become royalty, with Garland naming him Prince. She even started a TikTok account for him, @prince_frenchie, which amassed over 5,400 followers within two days.
“Prince has adjusted perfectly to his new environment,” Garland said. “He walks around like he owns the place. It took him about a day or so to come out of his shell, but now he literally follows me around like a shadow.”
Monday’s video brought in mixed reactions from the millions of TikTok viewers. Some expressed concern about Prince and his siblings being free, calling it “crazy” given the breed’s high cost. They suspected Prince had a health issue, but Garland assured viewers that the pup was healthy.
“He has minor allergies that’s controllable,” she said. “I did take him to the vet soon after getting him.”
But others couldn’t stop obsessing over her stroke of luck, with many wishing it had happened to them.
“Baby I would’ve had all 3 of them in my car! Why is the dog distribution system skipping meeeeee this year?” wrote a viewer.
“This is what I love. He didn’t throw them out or try to make money; he just wanted to rehome them,” another commenter said.
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