To look at him, you wouldn’t expect Brian Benson to be the keeper of a service dog. He works out seven days a week in his home gym, doesn’t drink, and is almost obsessive about clean eating. He’s health-conscious and successful.

Benson was, nevertheless, recently hospitalized with a serious heart condition, yet his service dog, Magnus, helped him in a big way throughout this ordeal. They shared plenty of warm, fuzzy cuddles in the hospital while the K9’s empathic ways lifted the owner’s depressed spirits. Magnus even inspired sympathy from strangers who would offer comfort and support from half a world away.

A video taken of the dog and owner embracing in a New York hospital has gone viral. Scenes of Magnus and Benson booping lips affectionately and playing games to kill the dreariness are endearing to a fault; the dog seems able to intuit his owner’s needs while emitting invisible, calm, soothing love medicine. The cute clip naturally went viral.

@userxhy9n0s2ca

♬ 오리지널 사운드 – 🌈🇰🇷유화🎗(행복&사랑)🌈 – 🇰🇷유화🎗

We’re pretty sure this video of the two will be the tenderest thing you’ll see on the internet all day.

When he visited the ER that day, Friday, Jan. 20, he had a host of tests done. After seeing the results—and particularly since heart problems run in Benson’s family—the doctor said he better stay overnight. He would end up staying till Sunday.

Now, Benson had already gotten Magnus, a 6-year-old yellow Lab, several years ago. He and his family had intended Magnus to be their family dog, but he showed promise as a therapy dog. As seen in said video, he exhibits extraordinary empathic traits. “I noticed early on he was very naturally empathetic. He knew how to read people, read emotions, then comfort them,” Benson said. “That’s why I trained him to become a therapy dog.”

After training Magnus to help others hospitalized, Benson developed a seizure disorder and so trained Magnus to be his service dog. Speaking of the therapeutic impact Magnus’s presence has, Benson said, “He’s just so calming, and just so relaxing. … I went into the hospital [and] my blood pressure was elevated, so having him lying in bed next to me just keeps everything calm.”