Sometimes, man’s best friend isn’t just loyal—he’s a little too empathetic.
After breaking his ankle in an accident, Russell Jones began using crutches and wearing a plaster cast that would stay on for seven weeks. Not long after, he noticed something strange: his 8-year-old lurcher, Billy, had started limping too.
At first, the couple assumed the worst.
A Limp That Sparked Concern
Russell and his wife, Michelle, who run a cleaning business in Hoddesdon, England, noticed that Billy appeared unable to put weight on his front paw. Fearing he might have stepped on a thorn or injured himself, they immediately booked a veterinary appointment.
The visit wasn’t cheap—around £300 (roughly $400) for exams and X-rays—but the couple agreed Billy’s health came first.
Then came the surprise.
The veterinarian found nothing wrong at all.
A Very Confusing Vet Visit
Due to COVID restrictions at the time, Russell wasn’t allowed inside the clinic. From outside, he watched Billy walk perfectly normally into the vet’s office.
Back at home, however, the limp returned.
Confused and worried, Michelle even recorded a video of Billy favoring his paw as proof that something had to be wrong.
But the truth would reveal itself the very next day.
The “Miraculous” Recovery
When Russell left the house, Billy suddenly transformed.
The once-limping dog sprinted across their backyard, darted around at full speed, and even swam in a nearby lake—without the slightest sign of injury.
The pattern became clear.
Whenever Russell was around, limping on crutches, Billy limped too. When Russell wasn’t there, Billy moved like a perfectly healthy dog.
Billy wasn’t injured at all.
He was copying his human.
Sympathy—or Imitation?
As it turns out, dogs are known to mirror their owners’ behavior.
Research from the University of Vienna and the University of Oxford has shown that dogs can automatically and voluntarily imitate their owners, even when doing so isn’t efficient or necessary.
The study noted that dogs often mimic actions simply because their human does them—sometimes at a cost to themselves.
In Billy’s case, when Russell began limping, Billy decided that was the correct way to walk… at least when his owner was watching.
Even funnier, when Russell began using his father’s mobility scooter instead of crutches, Billy’s limp disappeared entirely during their walks.
Internet Fame and a Very Expensive Lesson
The couple later shared a short video on Facebook showing Russell and Billy limping side by side. The caption read:
“Cost me £300 in vet fees and X-rays. Nothing wrong—just sympathy. Love him.”
The video quickly went viral, earning tens of thousands of likes and shares.
While most viewers laughed and praised Billy’s loyalty, a few commenters insisted the dog must still be injured and suggested the couple change vets. The couple responded by sharing clips of Billy running and swimming happily, putting any doubts to rest.
During a TV interview, host Phillip Schofield jokingly referred to Billy as “the biggest con artist we’ve spoken to.”
A Costly—but Heartwarming—Prank
In the end, the vet bill hurt more than Billy ever did.
But the couple took it in stride, recognizing the humor—and the love—behind the situation.
If there’s a takeaway from Billy’s story, it’s this: dogs are deeply attuned to their humans. Sometimes that means comfort, sometimes protection… and sometimes it means limping around just to make you feel less alone.
As Russell later joked, it may have hurt his wallet—but it proved just how much his dog cared.