“If you could use a little bit of joy & laughter, you’ve come to the right place!”, reads Tuna’s Instagram bio. The Chiweenie (a mix between a Chihuahua and a Dachshund) has indeed won the internet over, thanks to his exaggerated overbite, recessed jaw, and magnificent wrinkly neck.
Over the years, Tuna’s Instagram handle, Tuna Melts My Heart, has gained a massive following, with some 2 million fans to date (and counting!). Scrolling through his page, it’s easy to see why. But at least according to his owner, Courtney Dasher, the internet craze came as a total surprise.
In fact, when she created his account, back in 2011, she had no agenda to garner a large following. What she did recognize was that Instagram could be a catalyst to bring people joy through Tuna’s pictures. This online love would later translate into real life.
“One woman showed up to a book signing who had agoraphobia—she hadn’t left her house in years,” Dasher shared an unconventional reaction to her pup in an interview with Vice. “This woman got over her fear, just to meet Tuna!”
A true underdog, Tuna was adopted in December of 2010 at a Farmers Market in LA when he was a four-month-old puppy. But by the end of 2012, he was well on his way to stardom. His notoriety grew on Instagram when they featured a picture of him on their personal page, unbeknownst to Dasher.
“This unconventional-looking dog is being used to bring joy and make people happy,” says the proud mother.
“There was a point where I had an interior design boutique business, as well as a 9–5 job working in a design center, along with a social life, and a dog and his Instagram,” she adds.
“I had to prioritize what was important. I felt like this was my opportunity to make a positive difference in the world, so I took a leap of faith.”
Her leap of faith paid off. Join the hype on her Instagram!
