“She takes it very seriously.”
Here’s a refined version of the story:
In April 2020, a small dog’s life took a miraculous turn when she darted in front of a couple’s car on a Palm Springs road. The little dog had been surviving alone in a desert bush, but the couple knew she deserved a loving home.
After rescuing her, they brought her to the vet and then arranged a special handoff.
“After she was cleared by the vet’s office, we met halfway,” Mary Ransom, the couple’s mother/mother-in-law, told The Dodo. “In a rainy parking lot in Paso Robles, I met my little girl, and it was truly love at first sight. We immediately connected and have been inseparable ever since.”
The little dog, Laney, quickly settled into her new life. Not long after her adoption, Ransom discovered Laney’s hidden talent: singing. During a birthday celebration for one of Ransom’s grandchildren, Laney chimed in while Ransom was singing “Happy Birthday.” From that moment, it became clear that Laney had a passion for music—and performing with her mom.
Wanting to share Laney’s gift, Ransom came up with a creative way to include her in holiday celebrations.
“It was during the pandemic, so it was so hard not seeing everyone,” Ransom said. “A regular card just didn’t seem to cut it at that time, and since Laney was the newest addition to our lives, of course I had to include her. Being a grief therapist, my main goal is to bring a little happiness… I’ve always joked around about my singing, so putting together a card with a little carol seemed appropriate—it just so happened I had found a perfect partner to harmonize with.”
Every December, Laney and her mom record and send out festive holiday videos to their friends and family. They dress up in holiday outfits, and Laney eagerly joins in the singing.
“She takes it very seriously and loves to sing with her mama,” Ransom said. “After every video, she gets the zoomies around the house with a giant smile on her face. I think she knows that she is spreading joy.”
Their holiday tradition became even more special this year when one of Ransom’s friends shared the video on TikTok, where it went viral.
“Every year, the list gets a little bigger with people who want to see the videos, but this year is obviously a little more than expected,” Ransom said. “I had never planned on uploading anything to social media and certainly had no intention of ever going ‘viral!’ However, the outpouring of incredible comments and love has been so incredible and humbling.”
Laney, who was once abandoned in the desert, now sings holiday carols for an audience that spans the globe.
“I’m so happy that Laney and I can bring some joy to people during the holidays,” Ransom said.
From a desert bush to the world stage, Laney’s journey has been nothing short of magical—and she couldn’t be happier to spread holiday cheer one note at a time.