How is Tuna the Dog Doing Today?
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Unfortunately, many dogs end up in a rescue center and this can be for many reasons. A dog owner may have an unwanted litter, they may no longer be able to afford to care for a dog, or they may decide to give up their dog due to their own illness. There are some dogs who are in a rescue center because their owner has died or because they were neglected, mistreated, or abandoned. When a dog lover comes along and adopts one of these animals, it can completely transform their lives. They will have all their dietary and health needs met and receive the love and attention they deserve. Some dog’s lives have an even bigger transformation and Tuna the Chiweenie is the perfect example of this.
Tuna was abandoned in San Diego in 2010 when he was just four-months-old and was found by the roadside by a rescuer. He is probably the victim of irresponsible breeding as he has a severe overbite which is a common problem amongst dogs of this type when they have been bred irresponsibly. His ugly features may have been one of the factors that led to his roadside abandonment.
His rescuer decided to call him Wormy as he would slide across the floor on his belly in a submissive manner. The lady took him to a local farmer’s market to find someone who was willing to adopt him. Courtney Dasher was at the market that day and offered to foster him. However, she fell in love with his unusual looks and decided to keep him for herself.
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She didn’t like the name Wormy so called him Mr.Burns after the character from ‘The Simpsons’ as she thought the Chiweenie looked like him. She then changed his name again to Toonie because of his cartoonish looks. This then developed into the nickname Tuna.
Dasher gave her new adorable dog lots of love and attention and this helped to build his confidence. She decided he was so cute that she would put a photograph of Tuna on Instagram. She hoped that everybody else would fall in love with him just like she had, and she was right. Tuna became an instant Instagram hit. Instagram users agreed with Dasher’s opinion that the dog was adorable.
They liked him so much that he rapidly grew a following of avid fans and now has more than 400,000 followers on the social media site. His fans on Instagram cannot wait to see what the tiny dog will do next as they await his next photo update.
Tuna is now an Internet celebrity, and this has led to his owner setting up a business based on his social media success. There is a whole range of Tuna-inspired merchandise available for his fans to buy. Tuna is not a greedy dog, though, as a portion of the profits made from sales of this merchandise is given to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), a charity that is particularly close to Tuna and his owner’s hearts. Some of the proceeds also go to the lady who originally rescued Tuna from the roadside.
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Tuna is just one of many dogs who have become social media hits as their owners post cute photographs and updates on their pet’s antics. There is a growing trend for people to follow animals with their own sites.
What makes Tuna so special and stand out against the other canine Internet sensations is his backstory. The tale of how Tuna was rescued from the roadside, found a loving new home, and then became an Internet sensation is a heart-warming one that appeals to animal lovers around the world.
Tuna is now eight-years-old and is living life to the full as is evident by the photo updates posted on his Instagram account. He is getting plenty of attention from his owner, not to mention his devoted fans from around the world, and is constantly enjoying new experiences. Tuna’s life story is a true example of a canine rag to riches tale as his life is completely transformed for the better. Life is now good for this mutt and he has plenty to look forward to in the future.