Service dog refuses to leave man's side during his hospital stay. No one else was allowed to stay

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 1, 2023. It has since been updated.

Dogs are absolutely the loveliest and most adorable human companions. They are the most faithful and never leave the side of the ones they love. A video of a dog sticking close to a man with a heart illness is gaining the attention of people online. Brian Benson has cardiomyopathy, a disorder that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. During the therapy, though, his service dog remained at his side at all times, reported NDTV. 

The video demonstrating Benson's remarkable friendship with his dog Magnus is gaining traction on social media. It shows the 6-year-old labrador dog standing beside a hospital bed. The dog is seen following the man around everywhere and even consoles him by laying next to him. Benson stated on Instagram that his service dog was permitted to accompany him. He wrote, "Having him there helped not only me, but he calmed my daughters as well. Magnus being with me 24/7 meant more to me than he will ever know. I am beyond grateful for my boy." 

Benson claimed that he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy after experiencing chest discomfort and difficulty breathing. He has been exercising for 35 years but feels that his problem was caused by a family history of cardiac disease and heart attacks at an early age. He said, "Even though I have been working out for over 35 years, eat health[y], ran the NYC marathon, completed multiple Spartan races, and trained in Krav Maga and boxing, I'm one of the rare cases where a person 'just' develops cardiomyopathy." Benson further added, "The painful reality is that sometimes you just can't beat your genetics no matter how hard you work. It's almost like trying to swim upstream, maximum effort with minimal or limited results." 

He thanked his friends, family, and his dog in a lengthy post. He wrote, "Then there is Magnus. Thankfully he was allowed to stay with me 24/7 because he is also my service dog. He did exactly what he does best, kept me relaxed and took my mind off the current situation. He knows when to cuddle and when to get a little 'goofy.' He made the medical staff smile and also kept my girls calm. I love this dog more than he will ever know."

The video has gathered 9 million views and the heartwarming affection between them is winning everyone's hearts. A user @epanafora_2023 commented, "Every high-stress environment could benefit from having a Magnus there. He is the goodest boy. If I was a nurse working on that floor I would probably have gotten into trouble for coming into pet Magnus all day long." @laura_sturchio_love commented, "When I had my heart attack my husband snuck my little dog in. Best medicine ever. I told the Dr. I needed to go home to recover I left the next day to be with my dogs." 

"When my dad was in hospice stuck in bed. I brought my pit and a lab like Magnus. They made everyone so excited. They both jumped in my dad," shared another user @eurasian2000 wrote.