People in 'Tears' After Woman Posts Video of Goldendoodle Racing Down Driveway as She Films from Car (Exclusive)

Nestled successful nan bosom of nan West Virginia mountains, there's a quiet hit to life that Leah Stankus knows well.

Growing up, she and her siblings were raised connected a mini workplace astatine nan bottommost of a elevation – 1 afloat of animals and endless woods that erstwhile served arsenic nan backdrop to an idyllic childhood.

“This elevation has ever been special. Growing up, our family contented was watching nan sunset from nan apical of nan hill,” Stankus tells PEOPLE exclusively.

“As nan past rays of ray faded, we would commencement our title down nan hill, our family canine Bentley was ever gladsome to tally down, correct beside us," she adds.

As clip passed, however, nan ritual evolved. Instead of moving down nan elevation pinch Bentley, they would fto him retired of nan car astatine nan apical of nan elevation and thrust beside him, cheering arsenic he raced location pinch a joyful, wished grin. “We would ever fto him win,” Stankus admits.

These days, nan 26-year-old is nan only related still nearby. After assemblage and during nan tallness of nan pandemic, Stankus returned to her hometown, wherever she purchased a charming 1900s fixer-upper and lovingly restored it pinch her dad.

In nan autumn of 2022, Stankus adopted her ain lovable goldendoodle, Otis, who quickly turned her location into a home. “Otis is simply a very silly and cuddly dog,” she says. “Every time is simply a bully time for him. He is simply a friend to each different dogs, group and surviving creatures.”

Over nan people of conscionable 3 years, Otis has besides formed a heavy enslaved pinch her parents — and moreover much truthful with Bentley.

“The 2 are inseparable,” Stankus reveals. “Otis adores my parents and galore times has a difficult clip leaving erstwhile I travel to prime him up from play dates aliases sleepovers. Their location has go a 2nd location for him.”

Living conscionable 15 minutes distant from her parents, Stankus treasures nan closeness it brings. Weekday dinners, spontaneous hikes and moving downhill pinch their dogs are each portion of nan routine.

With 12-year-old Bentley now retired from running, Otis carries connected nan family contented – sprinting down nan aforesaid elevation pinch nan aforesaid excitement.

“When we move onto nan roadworthy that leads to my parents’ house, Otis ever perks up from lying down successful nan car and starts looking retired nan model broadside to side,” Stankus says.

The elevation stretches conscionable nether a 4th mile, and Otis flies down nan slope successful nether a minute. At afloat speed, he tin deed 27 mph – an awesome blur of fur and joyousness racing toward her parents’ beforehand door.

In nan summer, they often hold until nan hay is cut, since nan gangly writer makes nan elevation difficult to tally through. As a result, Otis and Stankus count down nan days for fall, erstwhile they tin walk, hike and bask nan crisp autumn air.

“In nan spring, each clip I spell to my parents’ house, I fto him tally down nan hill,” Stankus shares. “It’s not often that a canine gets to tally arsenic accelerated arsenic they tin to 1 of their favourite places – it’s really specified a typical point to watch."

One of her viral videos of Otis sprinting down nan elevation garnered complete 16 cardinal views. Stankus tells PEOPLE each canine deserves nan chance to tally free – to consciousness nan upwind connected their look and agelong their legs.

“A batch of group person commented that seeing my canine moving freely and joyfully reminds them of their ain dog,” she explains.

“Many person said nan video brought them to tears because it’s precisely really they image their ain dogs, who person passed, moving free and happy successful doggy heaven.”

In bid to make judge Otis is surviving his champion life, Stankus takes him astir everyplace pinch her.

He’s now go champion friends pinch her slope teller, nan cashier astatine Lowe’s and has moreover formed a saccharine enslaved pinch their 86-year-old neighbor, Yolanda, who now buys treats conscionable for him.

“Otis is everyone’s friend,” Stankus says. “Having an animal for illustration Otis has opened my bosom to caller friendships and possibilities arsenic a person.”