Pet cameras can be both a blessing and a curse for dog owners. While they provide peace of mind by allowing people to check in on their pets, they can also lead to moments of guilt when the footage shows something heartbreaking.
Claire, 32, from Berkshire, England shared a TikTok video (@cjthefoxlab) of her one-year-old Labrador, CJ, sitting alone on the couch in the dark. The clip, which has since racked up over 156,000 views, struck an emotional chord with viewers.
“We checked the cam to see what he was doing and realized he was sat looking sad,” she told Newsweek. “It broke our hearts.”
In the comments, Claire added, “[I] won’t ever make the mistake again after seeing him like this.” She explained that while the radio had been left on, daylight savings meant it got dark earlier than expected.
“My partner Jack and I forgot to turn the lights on,” she told Newsweek. “We immediately paid the bill and rushed home to him.”
A survey by Secure Data Recovery found that 74 percent of Americans use pet technology, mainly for dogs and cats. While 58 percent say it eases their anxiety and offers peace of mind, 13 percent admit it also brings guilt—since no device can replace real human interaction, something Claire now understands firsthand.
After seeing CJ’s lonely reaction, Claire told another user: “The whole house will be lit up and the TV will be on permanently.”
One commenter sympathized, writing, “I’d never leave the house again,” while another added, “That would break anybody’s heart.”
Others suggested practical solutions like setting up smart plugs for lamps or leaving the TV on with cartoons for company.
Watching TV, it turns out, can be more than just background noise for dogs. A recent study found that television can both entertain and stimulate dogs, depending on their personality.
Researchers discovered that some dogs respond more to certain visuals, such as animals, while excitable dogs are more likely to react to movement. The study suggests that dogs may interpret what they see on TV similarly to how they view the real world — making it a useful source of enrichment, especially for pets left home alone.
Reference
Montgomery, Lane I., et al. “Characterizing TV Viewing Habits in Companion Dogs.” Scientific Reports, vol. 15, no. 1, Jul. 2025, p. 20274. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06580-y.
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