Woman Discovers Foster Dog's Original Name, Realizes He Still 'Remembers'

Newsweek

23-07-2025

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A foster dog's unexpectedly joyful reaction to hearing his real name for the first time in years has melted the hearts of viewers on TikTok.
The video shows a chihuahua named Thumper racing across a sunlit yard after hearing a name he had not been called in a long time. With over 141,000 views, the clip from July 5 by @allthefosterpups, has delighted viewers and spotlighted the bond that can form between foster pets and their temporary guardians.
"I have been fostering senior dogs through Muttville Senior Dog Rescue since 2019 and just celebrated fostering my 100th dog," Lisa Arden, the California-based foster owner behind the post, told Newsweek. "Thumper—aka Stern Grove—was one of my fosters."
Viewers were able to see Arden speaking into the camera at her home.
"So, we found out that our foster dog's name is actually Thumper," she told viewers. "And watch how excited he gets when I call him by his name."
Moments later, the dog came bounding from indoors, wagging his entire body as he ran joyfully toward the camera in response to his name.
Thumper has since been adopted by a family in California.
Lisa Arden holds Thumper the foster dog (L) and Thumper as he sits on Arden's lap (R).
Lisa Arden holds Thumper the foster dog (L) and Thumper as he sits on Arden's lap (R).
@allthefosterpups
"In the video, you can hear me calling out 'Thumper'—his real name—and he immediately comes running, wagging his whole body gleefully," Arden said. "It was such a sweet moment that perfectly captures the emotional depth these senior dogs carry."
Originally found as a stray by Oakland Animal Services, Thumper was transferred to Muttville Senior Dog Rescue for medical care, including a much-needed dental procedure.
As part of a naming theme, he was renamed "Stern Grove," after the music festival. But shortly after Arden began fostering him, she received a message from his previous foster, who had discovered a microchip and learned that his original name was Thumper.
"Sadly, his former owners did not want him back," Arden said.
Now 14 years old, Thumper weighs just five pounds but has what Arden calls "a big personality and a love for laps."
"He absolutely adores being doted on and had fully embraced his role as the tiny prince of our home," she said.
The viral success of the video has come as a sweet surprise to Arden, but not an unwelcome one. She believes viewers are connecting with something universally touching: the recognition of identity, even in a senior dog.
"People seem to really connect with the joy of that moment—watching a senior dog light up when someone calls him by the name he remembers," Arden said. "It is a funny, heartwarming reminder that these older pups have rich histories and so much love left to give."
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