Victoria Shaffer On Her New “COVID-K9” Series, Her IG Live Broadcasts, Dogs & More
Victoria Shaffer is not only the Vice President Of Creative Development at Oso Studios — for The Hype Magazine I interviewed Oso Studios head Dub Cornett back in November 2017 — but also a host and producer. While April 2020 finds most of us quarantined, or at least spending more time at home than not, Shaffer is using that time to work on projects which make the world a better place.
Shaffer has been making people all over the world take notice with her recently-launched COVID-K9 series. COVID-K9 is an IG TV series via Instagram that comes out every Monday. In addition, Shaffer is doing nightly weigh-ins with the 9 puppies she is currently fostering at 7:30 PST via Instagram Live, and she will continue until all of the puppies get adopted, which is slated to be in a few weeks in mid-May.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Shaffer — who also gave a health-oriented status update on her family — about COVID-K9 and more. Additional information on Victoria Shaffer, the COVID-K9 series and other projects can be found online via www.instagram.com/victorialilyshaffer.
Did you always have a dog while growing up?
Victoria Shaffer: I didn’t grow up with dogs from a very young age like many of my friends. Neither of my parents had dogs growing up and at the time didn’t think it was an integral part of childhood — but now we all strongly disagree with this statement. In an attempt to give my little brother and I the pet we always wanted, my parents blindly tried getting us a dog several times from award-winning breeders. These dogs did not last more than two weeks in our house.
It wasn’t until I was 12 that I learned about animal adoption and enlightened my parents of this incredible, charitable, and way less expensive alternative to getting a family dog. I would stay up past my bedtime in secret researching animal rescue, e-mailing my mom petfinder.com links of adorable puppies and giving speeches on why we should adopt a dog during the car rides to school. I was taken aback by the horrible things I was reading about people mistreating dogs and wanted to be apart of the solution.
Long story short, my parents ended up rescuing two dogs in one year, I adopted and rehabilitated two traumatized and ill dogs of my own when I was nineteen, and am now living in L.A. creating and hosting dog content while spending my quarantine fostering 9 puppies and their mama until they are old enough to get adopted.
Where did the idea for COVID-K9 come from?
Victoria Shaffer: COVID-K9 came about when I was, like most artists during this pandemic, disappointed that opportunities I had been working towards were all put on hold. I am naturally a busy body and problem-solver and was already struggling to keep my dogs entertained and exercised during week one at home. I started crafting and baking for the sake of my dogs’ well-being and, being the Korean-Jewish woman that I am, I didn’t want to spend money on supplies — or venture out into this Covid-infested world — when our usual activities of visiting the beach or going on a hike were usually free. In attempt to build my Instagram audience and share these DIY ideas with my dog-loving community, I created COVID-K9.
How would you describe COVID-K9 to someone not yet familiar?
Victoria Shaffer: COVID-K9 is a short digital series that you can find on my Instagram TV by following me @victorialilyshaffer. In each weekly episode I teach you how to create DIY projects to keep yourself busy and your dog happy and occupied by using household items in the comfort and safety of your own home. Projects include baking nutritious, human-grade treats with multiple benefits using pantry staples, setting up brain-teasing obstacles, and making new toys out of repurposed clothing.
What else has been keeping you busy during this pandemic besides COVID-K9?
Victoria Shaffer: In addition to filming weekly COVID-K9 episodes, I have been very busy fostering nine shepherd/lab puppies and their formerly abused mama. These 10 adorable and sweet dogs came into my home when they were one month old and still nursing and will be available for adoption through an incredible rescue organization called Muttscouts here in Los Angeles in mid-May. It has been a lot of work caring for ten dogs in addition to my two beloved dogs, but incredibly rewarding. I have recruited my close friend since pre-school to quarantine with me and help care for these puppies and she just decided yesterday that she will be adopting one! I am so excited for her and the families these special dogs will be going to. I am certain they will change and enhance their lives like my dogs did mine and am so happy to be apart of that.
Every single night I have to weigh the nine puppies using a kitchen scale and mixing bowl to ensure that they are growing and healthy. lt was so cute that I quickly decided to go share the cuteness with the world by going live on my Instagram every night at 7:30 PM PST. These live puppy weigh-ins have turned into much more than I anticipated. People from all over are tuning in, saying that the puppy weigh-ins are the highlight of their day. I receive tons of DMs daily of personal dog stories, parents saying their kids want to grow up and rescue dogs just like me, and how uplifting and fun 7:30pm PST has become for them because of this livestream.
Work aside, members of your family have suffered from the effects of COVID-19. How’s everyone doing?
Victoria Shaffer: Yes! We had a very scary month in the Shaffer family. My mom, dad, and aunt all contracted the virus. Thankfully, my dad was not hospitalized but my mom and aunt were in the hospital for weeks. My aunt was in a 12-day coma, on a ventilator, and my mom was on oxygen and all sorts of experimental drugs. Everyone is home now recovering and I am so, so grateful. Call your family and tell them you love them today!
For those of us consuming media non-stop at home, any recommendations for new shows, movies or podcasts?
Victoria Shaffer: I have been too busy fostering puppies to keep up with current shows and movies, so I will say that if you are looking for entertainment, foster a puppy and save a life!
Finally, Victoria, any last words for the kids?
Victoria Shaffer: Teach everyone around you that there are bad people out there who do not treat animals well. Help make future generations responsible dog owners who understand the time commitment of owning a dog and spay and neuter them. Adopt don’t shop!
TweetAbout the Author
Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."
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