Iya Villania gets emotional over son Leon’s first heartbreak over a puppy

“Leon’s first heart break,” Iya captioned the reel, adding a broken-heart emoji.

The family had been making weekly visits to Minipet Philippines, a petshop and breeder specializing in small toy-breed dogs, as they prepared their home for a new dog. Iya explained that her husband, Drew Arellano, has always had a strong connection with dogs and had long wanted one for their family. With their eldest son Primo nearing 10 and also asking for a dog, the family finally felt that the timing was right.

During their visits, however, Leon unexpectedly formed a special bond with Annie.

“But with those visits, both Leon and I found ourselves growing fond of other cuties that were there! I loved getting cuddles from Tanya (the one I’m holding) while Leon got attached to Annie, who would always seek his attention when he’d walk away,” Iya shared.

She initially thought Leon was simply enjoying the puppy’s company. But everything changed when another family came to see Annie. “When they asked to see her, Leon started to feel nervous,” Iya recalled.

The heartbreaking moment came when the client decided to take Annie and had her reserved. That was when Iya realized just how attached her son had become after only two visits.

“I didn’t realize how attached he got from the 2 visits he had with Annie until I saw him really getting the feelzzz,” she said.

Iya admitted that she initially thought Leon was simply being dramatic, but watching him genuinely hurt changed her perspective.

“I’m reminded that as crazy as this boy is, so is his ability to love,” she wrote.

“Oh anak… wait til you fall in love with a human,” Iya added, turning the bittersweet moment into a mother’s playful reminder that this was only the beginning of the heartbreaks her son might experience in life.

The emotional scene became even more touching when Leon’s older brother Primo stepped in to comfort him.

“It was special seeing how Primo got affected with his brother’s heartbreak, too, and tried consoling him with a story of how he also didn’t get the dog he first wanted,” Iya shared.

“He’s not fond of letting Leon hug him but in this moment he allowed him to.”

For Iya, the incident was more than just a child being sad over a puppy. It was a glimpse into her son’s growing capacity for attachment, empathy and love and a reminder that even seemingly small heartbreaks can feel enormous when experienced for the first time.

Iya and Drew are parents to five children: Primo, Leon, Alana, Astro and Anya.

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