Video shows bereaved grandfather reduced to tears at sight of new puppy companion

Puppy arrives just weeks after death of pensioner's wife of 63 years

Francois Vermeir is reduced to tears at the sight of his new puppy companion (YouTube/Davy Vanhaesendonck)

The sight of a puppy brought a recently bereaved grandfather to tears when his family surprised him with the furry new companion.

The pensioner, from Belgium, was given the brown and black terrier to keep him company after his wife of 63 years passed away in late July following a brief illness.

Davy Vanhaesendonck filmed the heart-warming moment his grandfather, named as Francois Vermeir by ITV News, was presented with the puppy by six-year-old granddaughter Lisa.

Mr Vermier can be heard speaking in Flemish, but English subtitles show him to have said to her: “I can’t believe it. Is it for me? Thank you darling.”

A video of the heart-warming encounter was uploaded to YouTube on 5 August by Mr Vanhaesendonck.

He writes: “To give him energy and the courage to continue his life, we gave him this present. A moment filled with emotions.”

In the video Mr Vanhaesendonck can be heard telling his grandfather the puppy, named Snoopy, is “a friend for you grandpa, to keep you company”.