Emily Crisp and Ben Mesches were just enjoying a lazy evening at home, cuddled up on the couch with their golden retriever, Jolene. But little did they know, a simple idea they were about to have, would turn into a viral sensation and make their pup’s dreams come true.

It all started when Mesches, in a moment of pure mischief, decided to slip into an old Gumby costume he had stashed away from a long time ago. His plan? To surprise Jolene and see how she’d react. Jolene’s favorite thing was a Gumby toy, when Crisp, always ready for a laugh, grabbed her phone to capture the moment.

Jolene gets to cuddle with her favorite character, Gumby. Photo from Instagram/Jolene the Golden

As Gumby Ben emerged from behind a corner, fully decked out in his Gumby getup, Jolene’s reaction was priceless. The video shows her dropping her beloved Gumby toy and slowly rising to her feet, her eyes fixed on the life-size version of her favorite plaything.

With cautious steps, Jolene approaches the towering Gumby Ben, her disbelief slowly turning into excitement. And then, in a burst of joy, she lunges forward, showering Gumby Ben with kisses and affection.

“It was like she couldn’t believe her eyes,” Crisp said, laughing.

She went from confusion to pure bliss in seconds.”

The video of Jolene’s encounter with Gumby Ben quickly took the internet by storm, racking up millions of views and capturing hearts around the world. But the surprises didn’t end there.

Jolene received multiple versions of her favorite character, Gumby. Photo from Instagram/Jolene the Golden

After their heartwarming encounter, Jolene and Gumby Ben embarked on an adventure through their hometown of Petaluma, Calif., with Crisp capturing every delightful moment along the way. And as the video spread like wildfire, messages poured in from people all over, touched by Jolene’s infectious joy.

“It’s been incredible,” said Crisp, scrolling through the flood of comments. “People are saying how much Jolene brightened their day, and honestly, that’s the best part of all this.” The video has more than 5 million views on YouTube.

In the end, it was a simple gesture that brought so much happiness to Jolene and countless others. As for Jolene, well, let’s just say she’s got a few more Gumby toys in her collection now from her new fans.

And as Mesches puts it, summing up the whirlwind of events with a grin, “Who knew dressing up as a giant green toy could make such a splash? But hey, anything for our girl Jolene.”

Watch below to see how the adorable dog reacted to Mesches dressed in costume as a life-size Gumby.

Sources: My Modern Met | The Press Democrat