Meet internet Super Star, Tuna Melts My Heart

Pet ownership is a heartwarming responsibility that many American households have the privilege to endure. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, approximately 44 percent of all U.S. households have a dog. Meet Tuna, a six-year-old shrivel neck Chiweenie with an exaggerated overbite and a recessed jawline. Rescued in 2010 as a four-month-old puppy, Tuna became a star on Instagram @tunameltsmyheart after his owner Courtney Dasher posted his photos. Now they visit with the Hype magazine to discuss how you can help pets adjust to their new homes and advise on how to keep your pups happy and healthy. Just go to itsadog.com for more information and to keep track of the eventful days that are important to you and your dog.

I understand that you and tuna met at a farmer’s market in 2010.

Yes, we did! He was a four-month-old puppy at the time.

What made you decide to create an Instagram account for Tuna?

I did not want to actually have my own Instagram accounts. I didn’t want to make it about me, but I had tuna for a year and I had collected about a year’s worth of photos and he had really funny teeth growing and he’s known for his overbite. So, I just started posting a photo a day and people were telling me that he was bringing them joy and laughter. Then the account went viral a year later in December 2012.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate Tuna?

I like to celebrate that his looks are unconventional and encourage people to rescue animals that are different and not conventional. Then there is also this new website called itsadog.com that helps celebrate birthdays and days for your dog and you can and basically create a pet profile and register for a pet gift registry and select different items to bring your dog into the home.

Knowing you rescued Tuna, what tips do you have for new pet owners and how can they help a pet adjust to their new home?

I think it’s really important to just help your dog get acclimated to the environment by just making them feel really safe and spending a lot of time with them. I think sometimes people want to get a dog and then they work long hours. So, if you can find a way to be present with your dog or hire a dog walker and get them socialized with other animals, that’s really important.

So, the two of you met at the farmers market and then what happened?

The record stopped that’s what I say, because I was walking around looking at the different dogs that were created and when I saw tuna he was a four-month-old puppy and he had this elongated snout and he didn’t have teeth but his head was kind of down and he was really insecure. He had an oversized sweater on and I did the record stuff like I knew that I wanted to bring him home and love him with excellence.

Where can we go to get more information about the pet gift registry and It’s a Dog! sweepstakes?

So, you go to itsadog.com and you can create a profile for your dog and then now through October, you can win a sweepstakes for up to five hundred dollars in prizes but you can also find great pet advice and good info about your dog ownership to help welcome the pet into their home.

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Tags: DCypher Studios

About the Author

David Morales is the Executive Editor of The Hype magazine. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, David has a background as an artist manager, writer, blogger, drummer, and in the human services industry. He is passionate about helping others, learning and has a deep empathy for the creative process. You can follow his social media @dcypherstudios