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'Himalayan fur goblin': Animal shelter adoptions up 25% after giving mutt-mixes clever names

These should become official breeds.

via Puptographer/TikTok

Adrian Budnick holds up two shelter dogs.

According to Best Friends Animal Society, approximately 2.3 million dogs and cats were adopted in 2023—345,000 fewer adoptions than in 2019—with a net result of 415,000 adoptable dogs and cats being killed in shelters. But if just 6% of people who plan to acquire a pet were to adopt, we could empty America's shelters, and not one animal would be killed unnecessarily.

That’s why the efforts of those who promote pet adoption are so important. Adrian Budnick, a volunteer at Nashville’s Metro Animal Care and Control, has saved countless lives of dogs and cats by using her creativity to bring some much-needed attention to the shelter's animals. Budnik is a photographer who creates fun TikTok videos featuring shelter dogs, where she gives the unique mixes clever names.

It all began when she was making a video about a large “poodle-doodle” mix, as she calls it. The fluffy dog wasn’t like the pit bull types generally associated with shelters. So, she adopted a slightly annoyed voice, held up the big pooch and asked, “What’s this then?” before revealing it was a “Himalayan fur goblin.”

The video got a lot of attention on TikTok, and thus, she began a series of videos in which she gives creative names to the mixes and mutts at the shelter. The names are funny, but they are also perfect descriptions for one-in-a-million pups.

@puptographer

Himalayan fur goblin. Yeah we have those. Jeremiah A406860 is a 1 year old 60 lbs mixed breed. He is available at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control is located at 5125 Harding Place Nashville TN 37211. They are open 7 days a week 12-4 Thursday 12-6. #fyp #foryou #AnitaWalker #nashvilletn #adopt #petsoftiktok #adoptme #metroanimalcareandcontrol #nashville #dogsoftiktok #dog #adoptdognashville

Kenny G: Frankenpaw

Kenny is unique, to say the least, because he looks like someone took the head from a dog and put it on the wrong body.

@puptographer

Meet MACC’s Mismatched Frankenpaw. Kenny G is 8 years old and 67 lbs. When he’s not serenading you with the sultry stylings of smooth jazz he gives off chill vibes. He will say his hellos to dog friends but would rather be the aloof artist he truly is. If you are looking for a guy with flawless performances on stage and quiet nights at home off stage Kenny G is your guy. Kenny G A262135 is a 8 year old 67 lbs mixed breed. He is available at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control is located at 5125 Harding Place Nashville TN 37211. They are open 7 days a week 12-4 Thursday 12-6. #seniordog #AnitaWalker #fyp #nashvilletn #adopt #petsoftiktok #adoptme #foryou #metroanimalcareandcontrol #nashville #spayandneuter #whatsthisthen #dogsoftiktok #dog #dogtok

Katie: Snacklejack

Katie is called a Snacklejack because her ears resemble Doritos.

@puptographer

Meet MACC’s Snacklejack. Katie is 4 yrs old and 35 lbs. She is a sweet girl who prefers to be the center of attention and be the only pet. She has very expressive ears and a kisser that goes and goes. She’s ready to steal your heart and your snacks. Katie A432563 is a 4 year old 35 lbs mixed breed. She is available at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control is located at 5125 Harding Place Nashville TN 37211. They are open 7 days a week 12-4 Thursday 12-6. #AnitaWalker #fyp #nashvilletn #adopt #petsoftiktok #adoptme #foryou #metroanimalcareandcontrol #nashville #spayandneuter #whatsthisthen #dogsoftiktok #dog #dogtok

Pallet Jackie Wiggling Chewbarker

She is "small but mighty" and has a "thing for feet."

@puptographer

Meet MACC’s wiggling chewbarker. Pallet Jackie is 8 months old and 37lbs. She is a wild child with a thing for feet. She is learning that feet are not toys. She enjoys wrestling and running with her shelter friends. She’s the perfect size for every adventure. Pallet Jackie A435552 is a 8 month old 37 lbs mixed breed. She is available at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control is located at 5125 Harding Place Nashville TN 37211. They are open 7 days a week 12-4 Thursday 12-6. #AnitaWalker #fyp #nashvilletn #adopt #petsoftiktok #adoptme #foryou #metroanimalcareandcontrol #nashville #spayandneuter #whatsthisthen #dogsoftiktok #dog #dogtok

Budnik also created a persona based on a used car salesmen who adopts "certified, pre-owned pets."

@puptographer

Find you a forever friend #AnitaWalker #Nashville #puptographybyadrianbudnick #dogsofttiktok #shelterpetsoftiktok #fyp #rescuepet #westernfashion #rhinestonecowboy #western #westernwear

Since the Himalayan fur goblin video, Budnik has gone on to present the “Teacup werewolf,” “Speckled freckled cuddle calf,” “French baguette long lady,” and the “Creamsicle push-up pup,” among others. The great news is that, according to Budnik, the number of adoptions at the shelter has risen by 25% since she began creating the viral videos. That’s incredible news at a time when animal intake is rising higher than demand at America’s shelters.

Budnik’s videos have caught the attention of adopters across the country and beyond. “We’ll get calls from all over. And it’s not just local here to Tennessee, even,” Metro Animal Care and Control Director Ashley Harrington told the Associated Press. “We’ve had an adopter from Canada. We’ve had ones from states all over.” Many of them call asking for one of Budnik's specific breeds. “It’s been pretty great, and it’s been fun for our staff,” Harrington continued.

Budnik’s videos haven’t just been great for adoptions; they’ve also led to donations of money and supplies. A wall in the shelter’s volunteer room is covered with letters it has received referencing Budnik’s videos. For Budnik, it's all a labor of love. “I’m just having fun,” she said. “I absolutely love dogs. I think they’re the best thing on earth.”

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animal shelters
Joy

Animal shelter celebrates being empty for the first time in nearly 50 years

The silence coming from a Pennsylvania animal shelter during this holiday week is being hailed "a true miracle."

Adams Count SPCA/ Facebook

So many animals spent Christmas in loving homes.

For the first time in 47 years, the Adams County SPCA met the holidays with silence. Not a creature was stirring—not even a mouse.

Because this year, every kennel was empty. All the animals had either been adopted or reunited with families, thanks to what the organization called a “true Christmas miracle.”

To celebrate, the Adams County SPCA shared a photo of its employees and volunteers smiling alongside all the empty kennels, and thanked the community for its continued support.

“This year we have adopted out 598 animals and reunited 125 strays with their owners! WOW! It has been a busy year!” the post read.

This miracle comes despite the shelter “discouraging” potential pet owners from adopting pets during Christmastime, as there is a long-standing belief that animals adopted during this season as gifts are more likely to be returned weeks later. (TODAY)

While this belief is certainly warranted (there are plenty of tragic stories of Christmas pets being returned once the novelty wears off), studies show that might not necessarily be the case. In fact, a lot of research has found the opposite—that animals given as gifts are far less likely to be returned to shelters.

And to add to that optimism, several people responded to the Adams County SPCA’s post with pictures of their own fur babies adopted from the organization, showing them in happy, healthy homes.

"Happy Jack who was named Briscoe, is excited to hear the great news!"

"Toulouse (adopted 16 years ago) says Meowy Christmas and congratulations"

"Harper was adopted 4 years ago from Adams County SPCA. So grateful for all you do. Merry Christmas!"

The shelter also regularly adds “happy tails” of adopted animals living their best lives, including Bootsie the cat, adopted in November.

As Bootsie's new parents can attest, the sweet feline is “adored” by all, but has been a “game changer” for their autistic daughter, hope.

"Hope cuddles Bootsie when she’s upset instead of having full blown meltdowns, cuddles him and practices her verbal expressions of compassion, love and affection. Thank you so much for all you do!" their post read.

So maybe, just maybe, we can really believe this was a well deserved miracle after all.

But still, the work continues. As the organization explained in a subsequent post on Dec 26th, other overwhelmed shelters in the state have reached out in need of support. Right now resident owner surrenders still take priority, but they are branching out to surrounding counties when able.

In their words: “We are going to do the best we can to help as many animals and people [as] we can.”

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best of humanity
Joy

Utah pets can now be safely cared for while their owners get the help they need at rehab

These good boys deserve all of the head scratches while they wait for their humans!

Photo by Eric Ward on Unsplash

Pets are now safe while owners are at rehab.

Sometimes pets are what keeps people struggling with addiction and other mental health issues going. Pets provide a level of responsibility outside of yourself and they thrive on routine. For example, if you have trouble waking up in the morning, don’t just set your alarm, start feeding your animal at the time you’d like to wake up. After a week or so of this new and rewarding habit for your pet, they will be sure to remind you it’s feeding time. By simply existing, pets can give their owners purpose on top of all of the great mental health benefits. It’s no wonder that pets can also be the reason people don’t seek out treatment for substance use issues, especially if it requires a lengthy stay away from home. But now, people in Utah struggling with addiction no longer have to choose between their sobriety and their pet.

Some people that find themselves addicted to drugs or alcohol can become isolated from healthy relationships with their friends and family. Being isolated makes it difficult to find someone trustworthy to care for your pets while you’re caring for yourself. As one could imagine, if the social network is depleted and if the only people available to help with pets are other people struggling with addiction, it makes sense to them to prioritize their pet's safety over seeking treatment. When you’re deep in the throes of addiction, clinging to the one thing that is holding you together most days is understandable.

Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering typically offers free short-term housing for pets while their owners are going through a difficult time like domestic violence or homelessness. It recently partnered with Odyssey House, Utah’s largest comprehensive addiction program, which offers residential programs for teens and adults. The nonprofit also offers sober housing and a program designed for single parents. With Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering working hand in hand with Odyssey House, potential clients can rest assured their animals will be cared for during their time in treatment.

The animal crisis shelter can keep the animals for up to three months of free boarding while the pet’s owner is receiving treatment. Ruff Haven’s foster coordinator, Beth Henry, told The Salt Lake Tribune, “This is really person-based, like person-led.” Henry explained that the animals are kept safe in a foster home until the owner completes treatment and reaches a place of safety and stability. Before the pet is placed in a foster home, the owner must complete an application, which includes the owner’s current situation. Once the application is complete, the animal is assessed regarding its general condition including vaccinations and if it's fixed or scheduled to be. After all criteria is met, the pet is matched with a foster and the client can check in on their pet once a week via text. This includes foster parents sending pictures and videos to the owner to help ease their minds while they focus on getting clean.

Photo by Sasha Matveeva on Unsplash

Some animals are even able to get visitation with their humans at the Dogs All Day facility, where the owner can schedule some much-needed cuddles with their pooch. Ruff Haven’s Executive Director Kristina Pulsipher told the paper, “A lot of times [owners] worry that they’re gonna forget them during that period — the pets never forget their person. The reunions are why we do this. And we have many people who have been clients that volunteer with us now, or foster for us.”

This program is such a compassionate solution to a difficult situation and will hopefully catch on in other states. It's so important for people to be able to get the help they need without worrying about abandoning their pets. Since Ruff Haven opened in June 2020, it has already helped around 500 animals and 320 families.

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Science

A dog was surrendered to a North Carolina shelter by its owner for being ‘gay’

via David Boardman/Flickr

A dog at a LGBTQ pride parade.

In one of the most ridiculous examples of homophobia clouding someone’s judgment, a dog owner surrendered his pooch to the Stanly County Animal Protective Services in North Carolina after claiming it is “gay.”

According to WCCB-TV, the owners saw Fezco humping another male dog so they surrendered him because of his sexuality.

Fezco is a brown and black dog resembling a Rottweiler who appears to be 4 to 5 years old and around 50 pounds. The shelter says he is friendly to people and other animals. It didn’t comment on his sexual orientation.

It’s bizarre that anyone would care about their dog’s sexual orientation unless they were a breeder. But if the dog was humping another dog it probably didn’t have much to do with sex anyway.

Younger dogs that have not been spayed or neutered may hump other dogs, objects or legs as a way to practice for when they research sexual maturity. In many cases, dogs of any age will hump another dog to show dominance or during play.

“You’ll often see one dog mount another, then a few minutes later they’ll switch off and the other dog will mount the first dog,” Gary Landsberg, DVM, a veterinary behaviorist in Ontario, Canada, told WebMD’s Fetch. “It’s a common play gesture.

“It’s a play behavior that dogs do because no one has told them it’s not acceptable,” Landsberg added. “It can become enjoyable or a normal part of the dog’s day, so it keeps doing it. It’s the same as jumping up or barking at the door.”

People shouldn’t worry about their dog’s humping behavior unless it becomes a habit.

“The topic draws giggles and laughs, but it’s a very real topic for some people,” David S. Spiegel, VMD said. “Some dogs can become very compulsive about the behavior.”

But if the dog had homosexual tendencies, it wouldn’t be unusual.

According to Scientific American, homosexuality is fairly common in the animal kingdom. In fact, same-sex sexual behavior, which includes mounting, courting and genital licking, has been reported in more than 1,500 animal species from primates to nematode worms.

At first glance, it seems that homosexuality would run counter to the basic tenets of evolution and natural selection. Why would nature favor a trait that would make a species less likely to reproduce?

Researchers at Scientific American postulate that some ancestral animal species may have mated without taking sex into consideration. They had yet to develop the necessary faculties to detect sexual differences so they engaged with whatever they could.

The shelter put out a call for people to adopt or foster Fezco and, according to TMZ, people have been lining up to give the dog a homophobic-free forever home. Upworthy reached out to the shelter for an update on Fezco’s status and has yet to hear back.

While it’s sad that Fezco has had to deal with the trauma of being abandoned by his owners, it may be for the best. Anyone who would ditch their dog because it displayed homosexual behaviors or because they misunderstood a basic behavior probably shouldn’t be trusted to take care of a pet anyway.

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