A boy who thought he was welcoming his parents home from a trip couldn't contain his excitement when he discovered a puppy he'd always dreamed of on the front seat. Eight-year-old Max, from Mount Vernon, Washington, had no reason to suspect the sweet surprise when mom, Nicole, and dad, JJ, pulled up outside their home. For 15 years, Nicole and the family had been hoping to get a dog, but they'd lived in an area unsuited for the breed they liked, a German shorthaired pointer. That breed of dog needs to live in the country, Nicole said, with lots of space outside to run. And so, when the family moved more rurally after a decade and a half, Nicole contacted a friend who has purebred German shorthaired pointers – and they happened to have a litter. With Max staying at his grandparents for a few days, Nicole and JJ thought it would be perfect time to collect their puppy, who they had named Abby. Then, on July 2, 2023, the couple pulled up outside Max’s grandparents’ house, with the youngster, heading outside to greet them. As soon as he opened the door and saw the pure black puppy – a rare color for German shorthair pointers – staring back at him, the eight-year-old's jaw immediately dropped.