6 days ago
Rescue Puppy Attends Daycare, Owner Can't Cope With What Happens at Pick Up
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A proud dog mom has melted hearts by sharing the adorable award her rescue puppy won at daycare.
When Katie Tang, 27, arrived at the doggy daycare to collect her 6-month-old puppy Aspen, there didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary at first. But when one of the workers said she had something to talk about, Tang feared the worst.
Tang, of Queens, New York, told Newsweek that her "heart immediately dropped" and she thought she was about to receive some bad news about Aspen. But after seeing the look on her face, the worker quickly reassured Tang that it was good news, because Aspen, a poodle, Maltese, and Shih Tzu mix, had won the "Dog of the Week" award.
Indeed, Tang was directed to the adorable poster on the wall with Aspen's photo on it.
Katie Tang, 27, and Aspen winning the award at daycare.
Katie Tang, 27, and Aspen winning the award at daycare.
@aspenfluffernut / TikTok
"When I realized that Aspen was Dog of the Week, I welled up with pride and definitely let out a few tears," Tang said. "Aspen is my special boy, but for someone else to recognize how special he is, was an incredible feeling.
"The daycare had a paw competition that day, and Aspen had the fastest and cleanest paw. He was also in general a cuddly boy and good listener, and they wanted to highlight what a good boy he always is."
As this was Aspen's first time winning the award, Tang simply had to get a picture of him next to the poster. She shared an adorable video of this moment on the dog's dedicated TikTok account (@aspenfluffernut) and it has delighted internet users. In just a matter of days, the video has gone viral with over 395,600 views and more than 116,800 likes on TikTok.
The caption layered over the clip jokes, "Is this what being a parent feels like?"
Of course, Tang was sure to reward Aspen that evening with a delicious meal of homemade chicken bone broth and salmon skin. She also served up "his favorite" treat for dessert—some refreshing watermelon.
Aspen was rescued from Bobbi and the Strays Rescue in Freeport, New York when he was just 8 weeks old. He's settled into his new home wonderfully well, and he's come an awful long way since. Now, he knows 15 tricks and Tang is even working on more with him, including a "sit pretty" command and "stretch."
Tang loves sharing Aspen's new life on social media, from going to work with her, or the dreaded bath time. The online response has been incredibly positive, and it even feels like "a little community" for dog lovers to share pictures of their dogs and their accomplishments.
Tang told Newsweek: "The reaction to his video has been so heartwarming and has been making me smile every day. To see the internet cheer my little puppy on has made me feel so warm and connected. Reading through the comments and seeing all those amazing pictures has made my day since the post went up, and just really shows that dogs bring out the best in people."
Social media users have been quick to praise Aspen for his remarkable achievement, leading to more than 500 comments on the TikTok post so far.
One comment reads: "We are SO proud."
Another TikTok user wrote: "His little pose. He's proud of himself too."
While another person replied: "Congratulations Aspen! Your internet aunties are so proud of you."
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