Get to know North Carolina’s viral animal stars
Check out these furry celebrities who have become fixtures of their North Carolina communities (and the internet).
From seeing more gun violence to reports of a weak job market, reading the news seems like a double-edged sword these days. It can feel like you have to choose between staying informed and keeping your peace.
If scrolling through your newsfeed lately has resulted in mixed emotions, the Pew Research Center says you’re not alone. According to the institution’s recent survey, while 46% of the respondents said they felt informed reading the news, around “four-in-ten” felt angry or sad, often or extremely often, after seeing the news.
One of the best ways to turn that frown upside down is looking at cute animal content, according to a study by the University of Leeds. In fact, researchers found that looking at pictures and videos of animals for half an hour helped lower heart rate and blood pressure. So to relieve some stress today, read about the most precious animals that have gone viral in N.C.
Capturing hearts with the cutest puppy dog face
If you enjoy a movie with a plot twist, then you might enjoy the story of Ruby the shelter dog who went viral on TikTok. Burlington Animal Services took in sweet, shy Ruby this past March and had a program in place to allow people to take the pets out for “doggy day-outs, sleepovers, and short-term fosters.” These trips outside the shelter help lower dogs’ cortisol levels, which allows them to get a more relaxed night of sleep.
Dogs that get to bond with humans on these short-term stays are also “five times more likely to be adopted rather than euthanized and 14 times more likely to be adopted if in temporary foster care.” Local resident Haleigh took Ruby out for a night, and immediately fell for her future fur baby. All she needed to do to formally adopt Ruby was to drive back to the shelter to sign paperwork and get her microchipped.
Ruby didn’t know this would be her last drive back to the shelter, and despondently thought Haleigh was bringing her back for good. In a TikTok video dated May 2, you can see the moment Ruby figured out that Haleigh was driving back to the shelter. She enlarges her eyes and makes the cutest puppy-dog face.
To her pleasant surprise, she realized this was a temporary stop and that she would be returning to Haleigh’s home permanently. That’s when she “nearly yanks the leash from the shelter worker.” Within just two days, a reserved Ruby evidently formed a strong bond with Haleigh, which is why the video garnered over 2.3 million views within the first three days after she posted it.
It’s the perfect happy ending for dog lovers everywhere.
@haleighcw_xx I knew as soon as I took her out of the shelter I wouldn’t be able to return this sweet baby. Welcome to the family, Ruby 💕 #fyp #foryoupage #nationaladoptashelterpetday #adoptdontshop #animalshelter #dog #dogsoftiktok
Enjoying a second chance at life with the “purr”-fect family
When they say a cat has nine lives, Theodore is the prime example. Theodore had been through his share of ups and downs. He was an indoor cat that was made to work as a barn cat after his owner passed away.
Theodore was exposed to FIV after being moved to an outdoor life and was missing teeth, but got a second chance at life when the Humane Society of Catawba County took him in. Theodore got to go back to the indoor cat life he once enjoyed and just required more frequent veterinary visits. A married couple saw the 9-year-old cat with a friendly face peering through the glass door at them and uploaded a video of Theodore onto TikTok.
Within a month, the video garnered 885,000 views with numerous fans anticipating a happy ending for Theodore, known for his signature smile. The couple who took the video couldn’t resist adopting Theodore and decided to be his forever home. Shelter workers described the cute cat as the sweetest and most personable cat you’ll ever encounter.
Theodore has since been “feline” fine, now that he has the “purr-fect paw-rents.” If you want to follow Theodore’s new cushy life full of cuddles and naps, he has continued to garner TikTok fame.
@dailywithmals
Finding Francine the fearless feline
In a Richmond, Virginia-based Lowe’s, the store’s most valued employee stands on business with all four paws down. Francine is not just a calico cat with a unique coat—she was a beloved member of Lowe’s who often perused the gardening section. The former stray cat wandered into Lowe’s in 2017 and has since remained a local fixture.
So when Francine went missing on Sept. 18 this year, the community came together quickly to find Francine. Francine’s coworker and caretaker, Wayne Schneider, had a hunch that the cat had gotten onto a truck that was headed to one of the company’s North Carolina distribution centers. Schneider coordinated with distribution center warehouse managers Taylor Taconet and Preston Bullock to track down the missing cat.
While Lowe’s was tracking down the microchipped cat, Richmond-area SPCA volunteers put together “Task Force Francine” and drove down to Garysburg, N.C., with the mission of tracking down the Lowe’s worker. Concerned community members even put together a spreadsheet titled “Where’s Francine” that listed politicians and psychics who were contacted. The team also started posting updates on an Instagram account.
Finally, Lowe’s employees spotted Francine in the grainy CCTV footage—showing her last seen in the parking lot for trucks. Employees from the Richmond Lowe’s drove down to Garysburg to retrieve their missing coworker, whose disappearance resulted in an interstate investigation. Francine’s Instagram account is still active today, showing her enjoying several nap breaks and strolls through the gardening aisles.
Fetching refreshments makes this water boy a good boy
Dogs aren’t only man’s best friend; they can also be men’s best teammate. REMINGTON, the therapy dog for UNC-Chapel Hill’s baseball team, has proven to be a good water boy. From giving the baseball team encouraging “paw bumps” to fetching water and Gatorade from the fridge, REMINGTON is the definition of a team player.
The golden retriever even comforts and physically assists the players, sensing when they are anxious or injured. REMINGTON is the first “therapy dog working with an ACC baseball team” and has even inspired other baseball coaches to consider getting a therapy dog of their own. West Virginia prisoners originally trained REMINGTON through an initiative that gives them the opportunity to teach tricks and commands to clever canines.
REMINGTON has helped transform the lives of the humans around him by offering them hope and a second chance, which may just remind you that it’s not always a “dog-eat-dog” world.
Sharing the love for cats with the online community
Havelock, located in Eastern N.C., is known for the lush Croatan National Forest and scenic Neuse River that surround the small Southern town. However, there is another Forest and River duo that is making waves in the coastal community. Deylan Buntyn, a former N.C. State football player has two adorable cats named Forest and River that went viral on social media.
It all started when Buntyn decided to film funny dance videos on TikTok with the pair in 2020. Forest’s exaggerated facial expressions especially served as the perfect thumbnails—making it irresistible to scroll past without clicking. His following has since grown, and he has even added a new cat named Willow to his feline family.
According to The News & Observer, Buntyn has a social media marketing job during the day but has also monetized the account featuring his cute cats. So if you want to see his review on the new Litter Robot or just laugh at the numerous comical faces a cat can make, it’s the perfect break from the doom and gloom of your newsfeed.
Charming the Internet with a dose of Doodle
There’s nothing like cute doodle content to give you oodles of dopamine, and that’s totally the case with Sadie of Charlotte. Sadie is a retired “dogfluencer” enjoying the soft life with no “ruff” days in sight. When she’s not cuddling with her owner’s children, she’s often spotted celebrating holiday festivities, enjoying scenic adventures, and visiting the area’s top breweries.
The Charlotte Observer named Sadie as one of the top 12 dogs to follow from the Queen City, and this regal dog has continued her reign online—showcasing all the top places that are fit for a queen like herself. Whether you’re seeking a cold glass of beer from Sugar Creek Brewery or touring Winston-Salem’s historical sites, Sadie is the top dog when it comes to suggesting fun plans.
Shedding hair while shedding light on mental health
Kiwi is a little animal that has made a large impact in highlighting mental health. The adult miniature horse from Raleigh has dwarfism, which makes him even smaller than other miniature horses. In 2021, he was cast in a film titled “Reggie” that was shot in N.C.
The movie features the fictional story of a man dealing with depression and his journey in adopting a miniature horse with anxiety. Kiwi is not only a hero in the “reel” world but also in real life. As a therapy horse with the Stampede of Love group, Kiwi specifically aids students with test anxiety.
The camera still loves Kiwi, though, and the roughly 2 ft. miniature horse now has an Instagram account you can follow. The self-described “firecracker” is guaranteed to get you to shift from doomscrolling to “gleefreshing.”
@kiwitheminihorse A little TBT for you. Another baby Kiwi clip.
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