Posts tagged with "The Dodo"

Fluffy dog storms professional soccer field—and tries to ‘fetch’ the ball

May 19, 2023

No regrets. When this ball-loving dog saw his moment, he took it—no matter the fact that the “opportunity” was quite inopportune to nearly everyone else. As it turns out, however, it was a much-loved ten seconds of fame, regardless, reports The Dodo.

Two professional teams, Curicó Unido and Palestino, faced off in a heated soccer match recently at a stadium in Chile. Although Palestine would ultimately close out the game with a 1–0 victory, the real winner of the night had on no uniform at all.

That title went to a fluffy dog, who, without warning, decided to storm the field and steal the ball.

The game was momentarily halted due to the adorable interruption—yet, sure enough, the crowd still went wild.

The object of the dog’s desire—which was only in his grasp for a few seconds—sadly fell to the grass as player Maximiliano Salas hefted him in his arms and gently escorted him away.

As the dog was hauled off the field, he showed zero regrets about his bold attempt.

Where the dog had come from exactly is anyone’s guess—but with that simple act, he secured himself a place as a sports legend.

Ball is life, after all.

Research contact: @dodo

Stray dog crashes couple’s wedding—and becomes part of their new family

August 5, 2022

Douglas Robert and Tamíris Muzini were ready for their big day, when they would commit to spending happily ever after together—but Tamíris didn’t know there was someone else, reports Good News Network.

As the bride arrived at the church, she noticed a “wedding crasher” in attendance—a stray blonde dog that was mingling gently with guests.

Not putting paw nor tail out of place, the ceremony eventually commenced with the dog sitting down by the doorway to watch, as if he knew what was happening. After the “I do’s” were done, the beautiful couple made for the exit. That’s when the dog suddenly became excited.

“When he greeted us at the end, he asked: ‘Take me home. Take me,’” Muzini  told The Dodo.

They decided in that very moment to make their happily ever after fit for three—adopting and naming the scrawny pooch Braiá Caramelo.

Scars abound, suggesting that his road to the door of the church that fateful day had not been an easy one—but that’s all behind him now. “He’s so loving. Despite everything he’s been through, he still believes in the goodness of people,” Muzini added. “He gives us hope.”

Instagram posts suggest the three are doing very well, settling into a new lifetime together in stride.

Research contact: @goodnewsnetwork

The Dodo, Group Nine’s animal brand, is expanding into pet insurance

October 22, 2020

The Dodo, the animal-centric video brand of Group Nine Media, has built an audience of more than 90 million followers across social media platforms. Now it is getting into pet insurance, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Group Nine—itself, backed by Discoveryhas taken a minority stake in Petplan, a pet insurer headquartered in New York that was acquired by private-equity firm Warburg Pincus last year. Financial terms weren’t disclosed. Group Nine’s chief executive, Ben Lerer, will join Petplan’s board of directors.

The deal includes an equity stake, as well as a brand-licensing and marketing-services arrangement through which Group Nine and The Dodo will be paid to promote Petplan’s offerings.

The pet insurer will be renamed “Fetch by The Dodo” in May 2021.

The acquisition is the latest effort by Group Nine, which was valued at about $1 billion last year, to create new revenue streams at a time when many digital media companies, big and small, are trying to diversify beyond advertising, the Journal notes.

“For digital media, I think we all have the challenge of needing to be good at multiple things at once,” said Lerer. “My belief is that the best way to reinforce multiple business lines is to build great brands, because a great brand can be leveraged in a bunch of different ways.”

In buying into Petplan, Group Nine and The Dodo won’t be starting from scratch, he said. Petplan has more than 250,000 paying subscribers, the companies said. People familiar with the business said that number includes around 50,000 net new members since May 2019.

Research contact: @WSJ

Dog tired: Italian Ikea store opens doors to stray pooches

December 4, 2018

Animal lovers are giving an Ikea store in Catania, Italy, a big social-media smooch after photos appeared on online showing stray pooches sleeping among the furniture displays.

Martine Taccia was shopping at the Ikea when she saw the dogs relaxing near a living room display, The Dodo reports. “My reaction was pure amazement. It’s not a common thing,” Taccia told the animal news site.

Taccia said she had found out that the furniture and appliance store opens its doors to strays in cold weather and even provides food and water. “The dogs receive daily food and pampering from Ikea’s employees and customers,” Taccia says. “Some dogs have even found a family, going home with customers.”

She immediately posted the news to her Facebook page—and the shares and likes continue to multiply.

According to the comments on the photos, dog lovers are giving this one store’s policy a big thumbs up. “Thank God there are still good people in the world who help poor animals,” one friend wrote on Instagram.

Another customer, Beppe Liotta, was likewise smitten with the store’s dog-friendly initiative. “I felt a feeling of deep tenderness and great happiness in seeing dogs crouched in the exhibition space at the entrance of the IKEA,” Liotta told The Dodo.

As a self-proclaimed animal lover, Liotta told the news outlet that he hopes other businesses will follow suit by opening their doors (and their hearts) to animals whose sad circumstances are all too often overlooked.

“If all the stores that had the space would make a place of refuge for strays, I would be really happy,” he said.

Research contact: stephen@thedodo.com