A woman was shocked by what happened when her tiny dog went pelting out of the house after a snowstorm—but not as much as the puppy himself.
Toronto-based TikTok user Melissa Chan (@melissaachan)drew more than 9.8 million views on a video in which her Norfolk Terrier Frankie was nosing at the door, hoping to go outside.
But when she opened the door and Frankie went running out, he vanished immediately into the snow.
Chan gasped in shock, but fortunately, Frankie popped his head up out of the snow bank, looking disoriented as he peered around.
“Oh my God,” Chan’s partner exclaimed. “Frankie, come back in.”
Frankie squeaked in alarm and ran back inside, completely covered in snow.
“Nearly lost my dog!” Chan wrote in the caption of her video.
‘He’s a funny guy’
In an email to Newsweek, Chan explained that this is Frankie’s first winter enjoying the outdoors.
“He absolutely loves running and digging into the snow,” she said. “Despite being pretty shocked in the clip I posted, in the full-length video, he immediately turns around to run out again. He’s a funny guy.”
Chan described Frankie—who just turned one—as curious and playful, adding that he is “always begging to go outside.”
Even after his lucky escape, Frankie “still loves the snow and the outdoors.”
“It’s hard to get him back into the house without luring him in with a dog treat,” Chan told the outlet. “He’s super resilient and somewhat stubborn (a true terrier—he’s actually barking at me to be let out right now).”
Pet Safety in Snow
Chan said Frankie is handling the winter—”and his newfound fame”—very well, but cold, snowy weather can pose serious risks to pets if precautions aren’t taken.
Dogs and cats are vulnerable to frostbite and hypothermia, especially on ears, paws and tails, so outdoor time should be limited during extreme cold.
Snow, ice and road salt can irritate or crack paw pads, and chemicals used to melt ice may be toxic if licked off.
Wiping your pet’s paws and belly after walks helps remove salt and ice buildup, while pet-safe booties can offer extra protection—in other videos on his dedicated Instagram page, Frankie can be seen sporting a stylish set.
Indoors, pet owners should make sure animals have a warm, draft-free place to rest and never leave pets unattended in cars during winter, as temperatures can drop rapidly.
Owners should also watch for signs of cold stress, such as shivering, lethargy or lifting paws while walking, and seek veterinary care if symptoms appear.
Taking these steps can help keep pets safe, comfortable and healthy throughout the snowy months.
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