In a charming corner of California, a surprising friendship has blossomed that proves the heart knows no species boundary. Meet Hati, a Siberian husky–German shepherd mix who has captured the internet’s affection with an unexpectedly tender bond with a school of koi.

The clip, shared on Instagram under the handle @introducing_hati, offers a moment of pure, gentle anomaly. Hati — whose breeds might suggest a strong prey drive — is shown at his “grandpa’s house” pond. Instead of chasing or barking, he gently “bops and pets” his aquatic friends with his snout.

“My dog would try to eat them! Meanwhile, my dog …” owner Lynsey Haddock wrote in the caption, later joking that she never expected her dog’s best friends would be slimy fish.

An unbreakable bond built on trust

The relationship is more than a cute one-off. Haddock told Newsweek that Hati has a “deep fascination and infatuation” for the koi. “Nothing gives him more joy than hanging out with them,” she said.

What makes the bond compelling is the fish’s reciprocal trust. Each time Hati visits the pond, the koi “all gather around him to greet him and spend time together.” Among them is one special friend, an orange koi Haddock nicknamed Cheeto. Haddock said Hati may look intimidating, “but he is a sweetheart.”

Haddock explained in a clip that while her father has two dogs of his own, only Hati is permitted in the pond because he is “sweet and gentle enough.”

A viral “Disney princess”

The video’s viral run underscores the public’s appetite for unlikely friendships. The clip quickly received more than 6 million views and nearly 500,000 likes on Instagram. Viewers flooded the comments with warm reactions.

(Courtesy of Lynsey Haddock)

“They gravitate toward Hati. The best of friends, especially Cheeto,” one user wrote. Another added, “They can definitely sense that he is friendly.” One commenter dubbed Hati a “Disney princess.”

Hati’s playful bops with creatures so different from him are a sweet reminder that connection can be found in the most unexpected places.

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