Shelter’s Videos Of ‘Teacup Werewolves’ And ‘Nashville Hot Chicken Spaniels’ Help Dogs Get Adopted
Volunteer Adrian Bucnick has spent over a decade taking adoption photos for Nashville’s Metro Animal Care and Control (MACC) shelter to help dogs find homes. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, she struck on an idea that went viral and has since helped increase adoptions.
As one of the few people allowed into the shelter during lockdown, Adrian began taking videos and posting them on TikTok, where she gave adoptable dogs hilarious breed names such as Speckled Freckled Cuddle Calf (a Pittie), Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Spazzer (a Border Collie), and Teacup Werewolf (a German Shepherd).
She adopted what she calls her “Karen” voice, posing as a fictional potential adopter and addressing common misconceptions about shelter dogs. In each video, she responds with her signature catchphrase—”What’s this then?”—while holding up an adoptable dog. Her first viral video tackled the claim that “shelters don’t have anything but Pit Bulls.” In response, she held up a big, fluffy dog and dubbed him a Himalayan Fur Goblin.
Adrian told Penn Live, “It was kind of just on a whim. We had this — I’m assuming it was like a poodle-doodle situation, and he was really big and lanky.” Jeremiah got adopted and Adrian kept on making videos. Polly the Pit Bull (aka a “Bridle pittopotomus” led to a popular Christmas “pittopotomus” video.
The funny videos have taken off, endearing viewers and potential adopters to the dogs so she’s continuing to do them and encourages other shelters to take her idea and have fun with it.
There are more dogs like the Nashville Hot Chicken Spaniel…
And the Tipping Tripping Terrier available for adoption at the shelter.
Be sure to check out Adrian’s LinkTree for details on how to help the dogs at MACC.
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