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Adorable video of baby cuddling pet dog goes viral: ‘People just want to see heartwarming stuff’

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Well, if this doesn’t cheer up your Wednesday, nothing will.

An adorable video of a baby and a dog snuggling up during naptime has gone viral on Instagram, warming the hearts of thousands.

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The Instagram account, Samsonthedood, which follows the adventures of Samson the Goldendoodle and his family in Westport, Conn., has no shortage of sweet snaps, but the reaction to this one was different. Samson’s parents, Jessica and Alex, told Fox News it could have something to do with today’s climate amid the coronavirus health crisis.

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An adorable video of baby Theo snuggling up with pet Samson has gone viral on Instagram.
(Samson the Dood Instagram)

“I think people just want to see heartwarming stuff these days as a break from what’s going on in reality,” said Jessica and Alex, who are also parents to their baby boy Theo and two other dogs, Charley and Shea.

The pair, who frequently post on the Instagram account using the hashtag “three doods and a baby,” said Theo cuddles like this often, usually with “one of the three pups for a 15-30 minute nap a day.” Jessica and Alex said this arrangement started when Theo was around three months old.

“Samson used to cuddle his bear,” they said. “Sweet to see him cuddle our baby now.”

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In response to how they felt about the video going viral, Jessica and Alex said they were just happy their 577,000 followers were enjoying it.

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“Glad we could make people smile.”

Adorable video of baby cuddling pet dog goes viral: ‘People just want to see heartwarming stuff’

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Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.

Well, if this doesn’t cheer up your Wednesday, nothing will.

An adorable video of a baby and a dog snuggling up during naptime has gone viral on Instagram, warming the hearts of thousands.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

The Instagram account, Samsonthedood, which follows the adventures of Samson the Goldendoodle and his family in Westport, Conn., has no shortage of sweet snaps, but the reaction to this one was different. Samson’s parents, Jessica and Alex, told Fox News it could have something to do with today’s climate amid the coronavirus health crisis.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

An adorable video of baby Theo snuggling up with pet Samson has gone viral on Instagram.
(Samson the Dood Instagram)

“I think people just want to see heartwarming stuff these days as a break from what’s going on in reality,” said Jessica and Alex, who are also parents to their baby boy Theo and two other dogs, Charley and Shea.

The pair, who frequently post on the Instagram account using the hashtag “three doods and a baby,” said Theo cuddles like this often, usually with “one of the three pups for a 15-30 minute nap a day.” Jessica and Alex said this arrangement started when Theo was around three months old.

“Samson used to cuddle his bear,” they said. “Sweet to see him cuddle our baby now.”

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In response to how they felt about the video going viral, Jessica and Alex said they were just happy their 577,000 followers were enjoying it.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“Glad we could make people smile.”

Vets say cats from COVID-19 households shouldn’t be let outside

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Hey, all you cool cats and kittens… stay inside!

The British Veterinary Association is advising that certain cat owners keep their cats inside (if possible) to help curb the spread of coronavirus. According to the BVA, the concern is that cats could carry the disease on fur.

In a statement on its website, the BVA clarified that its stance was that cats from households with confirmed or possible COVID-19 infections should remain indoors, if possible. The association acknowledged that some outdoor cats may not be able to be kept indoors.

COUPLE CREATES ART GALLERY FOR GERBILS DURING QUARANTINE, COMPLETE WITH RODENT-INSPIRED PAINTINGS

“We are not advising that all cats are kept indoors,” the BVA wrote. “Only cats from infected households or where their owners are self-isolating, and only if the cat is happy to be kept indoors. Some cats cannot stay indoors due to stress-related medical reasons.”

The BVA explained that “animals can act as fomites, as the virus could be on their fur in the same way it is on other surfaces, such as tables and doorknobs. That’s why our main advice for pet owners continues to be to practice good hand hygiene.”

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As COVID-19 is still being studied, the BVA believes that the small number of cases of animals being infected was transmitted from “human to animal.” It also says that there is “no evidence that pets can pass COVID-19 to their owners.”

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The statement also clarified, “From the small number of cases it appears that dogs do not show symptoms, but cats can show clinical signs of the disease.”

Couple creates art gallery for gerbils during quarantine, complete with rodent-inspired paintings

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For one couple, being stuck inside for days on end means it’s time to build a tiny art gallery for their gerbil.
(iStock)

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Some people are quarantine baking. Others are quarantine fashionistas.

But for one couple, being stuck inside for days on end means it’s time to build a tiny art gallery for their gerbils.

A Redditor and her boyfriend, who she said “works in a museum,” “spent the whole day setting up an art gallery for our gerbil.”

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The user, who goes by Mariannabe on the popular forum website, shared that the gallery – complete with rodent-themed artwork – came to fruition on “day 14” of quarantine.

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The original post, which seems to show one of the couple’s gerbils seeming to admire a Mona Lisa-inspired piece of artwork in the museum, racked up 136K views and amassed many positive comments.

“This is fantastic! I’m glad someone gets to visit a museum,” one person commented.

“I would love greeting card versions of the Great Gerbils of Art. I would totally buy a set,” another person wrote.

“SIR! PLEASE STAND BACK!!” one person joked about the gerbils handling the artwork.

“Love the Mousa Lisa,” one person punned.

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“The Klimt is magnificent,” one person admired of “The Kiss”-inspired painting.

The interest in how the gerbils received the incredibly detailed museum was so great that Mariannabe followed up her original post “as promised” with a video she claimed was of the couple’s gerbils scampering about the art gallery – and chewing on items, despite the clear instructions “please don’t chew.”

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The follow-up post was shared Monday afternoon, also receiving praise from the Reddit community.

Couple creates art gallery for gerbils during quarantine, complete with rodent-inspired paintings

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For one couple, being stuck inside for days on end means it’s time to build a tiny art gallery for their gerbil.
(iStock)

Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here.

Some people are quarantine baking. Others are quarantine fashionistas.

But for one couple, being stuck inside for days on end means it’s time to build a tiny art gallery for their gerbils.

A Redditor and her boyfriend, who she said “works in a museum,” “spent the whole day setting up an art gallery for our gerbil.”

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

The user, who goes by Mariannabe on the popular forum website, shared that the gallery – complete with rodent-themed artwork – came to fruition on “day 14” of quarantine.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

The original post, which seems to show one of the couple’s gerbils seeming to admire a Mona Lisa-inspired piece of artwork in the museum, racked up 136K views and amassed many positive comments.

“This is fantastic! I’m glad someone gets to visit a museum,” one person commented.

“I would love greeting card versions of the Great Gerbils of Art. I would totally buy a set,” another person wrote.

“SIR! PLEASE STAND BACK!!” one person joked about the gerbils handling the artwork.

“Love the Mousa Lisa,” one person punned.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

“The Klimt is magnificent,” one person admired of “The Kiss”-inspired painting.

The interest in how the gerbils received the incredibly detailed museum was so great that Mariannabe followed up her original post “as promised” with a video she claimed was of the couple’s gerbils scampering about the art gallery – and chewing on items, despite the clear instructions “please don’t chew.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The follow-up post was shared Monday afternoon, also receiving praise from the Reddit community.

Pet adoptions, fostering spike amid coronavirus restrictions

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The Coronavirus pandemic is proving that man is turning to his best friend in a time of loneliness.

But the crisis is also presenting a challenge to animal shelters bracing for a rise in the number of pets whose owners are too sick or poor to provide care.

“It has been a whirlwind of wonder,” says Camille Bates of Midwest Animal Rescue. “We put out a national call for foster families and the response has been incredible. If you are going to be at home, fostering or adopting a pet is a great time for you to bond with a buddy.”

In New York City and Los Angeles, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) says applications to foster dogs and cats is up 200 percent. PetPoint, a software program shared by some 1,200 shelters nationwide, reports fostering and adoptions are up 700 percent over last year.

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Foster mom Anna and foster dog Sundance (left) Rowdy and adoptive moms Sarah and Kailey (right
(Fox News)

“We are seeing people all over the country stepping up to foster and adopt animals from their local shelters and rescues,” says Human Society CEO Kitty Block. “It has truly been a game-changer in the sheltering world.”

The coronavirus has shut down county facilities in most California cities, with social distancing regulations also shuttering most weekend adoption fairs. Faced with a surplus of animals, many shelters reached out on Facebook and social media for assistance. Jeanette White, of Los Angeles, was among those who wanted to help.

William and his adoptive dog, the aptly named Nelson
(Fox News)

BUSCH TO GIVE ‘3 MONTHS’ OF BEER TO PEOPLE THAT ADOPT OR FOSTER A DOG DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

“I kept thinking how, you know, this is something that I do that’s tangible,” said White, who was joined by her new dog Box. “This particular dog is kind of at risk because he has a health issue. His adoption fell through. It’s something small, but it’s something I can do. Plus, I love the companionship. With this sheltering in place, you need somebody around.”

In San Antonio, animal care services adopted out 600 pets in March, but still has 900 animals outstanding with local rescue partners.

“If you are going to be home, maybe you could foster a dog,” said Bates, whose group focuses on states from Minnesota to Mississippi. “What we found was an imbalance. We had a surplus of families wanting to adopt in one state and no dogs, and shelters were full in others – like Ohio, which has a high euthanasia rate.”

ANIMAL SHELTERS PULL OUT THE STOPS TO FIND PETS HOMES DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK

One person who saw her post worked at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, which is now offering a three-month supply of beer for every pet fostered or adopted. If the family still has the pet after 30 days, Busch sends them a $100 voucher.

Country singer Mason Jennings and Josie Jennings adopted Raising last Friday
(Fox News)

The ASPCA has also started a “Keep Families Together” donation drive to support mobile pet food banks. The Humane Society is working in Oregon, Indiana and Texas to identify food banks are in need of pet food and is attempting to secure donations.

In Los Angeles, officials partnered with 150 other counties and private rescue services to try to expand the adoption base and match supply with demand.

Shelters are also adopting inventive ways to increase exposure. Each day at 2 p.m., the Wake County SPCA in North Carolina In North Carolina conducts a Facebook Live event to showcase adoptable pets. The Southern Pines Animal Shelter in Mississippi throws its own brand of “slumber parties” – overnight trials for potential adopters. The Animal Protective Association in Missouri has implemented “curbside adoptions”.

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“The problem is, adoptions are lower, and that’s the reason for our new foster program,” says Sheri Koenig, director of a Los Angeles County shelter. “Folks are driving in here with their masks on and want to foster. That’s the biggest thing I see right now.”

Dog delivers winery’s booze during coronavirus outbreak

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Maryland is getting the real-life equivalent of the brandy barrel-bearing St. Bernard of Alpine rescue lore — although instead of life-giving spirits, it’s carrying spirit-giving wine.

It’s the social-distancing solution of Stone House Urban Winery in Hagerstown, which has introduced a delivery dog to its intrepid staff.

His name is Soda Pup, a 75-pound brindle boxer with all the breeding necessary for curbside service, plus horse saddle bags and a vest with two pouches.

Meet Soda Pup, a 75-pound brindle boxer who is helping the Stone House Urban Winery with curbside service through the ongoing outbreak.
(Stone House Urban Winery)

CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN: PEOPLE ARE BUYING TONS OF ALCOHOL

He doesn’t work the streets alone, either. The winery puts someone on “dog patrol,” letting pup-happy customers know not to give Soda snacks other than ice cubes.

“We’ve had people call in just specifically to have Soda Pup bring wine out to them,” Lori Yata, Soda Pup’s owner and co-owner of the winery, tells WJLA-TV. But she wasn’t sure it would work at first.

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“I thought, ‘God, please don’t let a goose or something walk by or those wine bottles are gone,’” she tells the Herald-Mail.

“We’ve had people call in just specifically to have Soda Pup bring wine out to them,” said Lori Yata, Soda Pup’s owner and co-owner of the winery. 
(Stone House Urban Winery)

But winos beware: The 11-year-old pooch only carries two bottles of wine at a time, which, on the bright side, means you’ll see plenty of him.

“We are going to look for the positive side of this, closing the store allows us to do things we normally cannot keep up with, we are making tons of wine,” Yata says.

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This story was originally published by the New York Post.

Feds spent $10G on dog urine research 2 days after first US coronavirus death

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The Department of Health and Human Services gave $10,000 to the University of California, Davis for research on the amino acid levels in dog urine on March 2, just days after the first coronavirus death on U.S. soil.

The description of the award says the money will go to “control dog urine samples and measuring the levels of amino acids in dog urine samples. The contractor shall test 80 urine samples and provide 4 hours of expert consultations….”

The White Coat Waste Project, a group that advocates against government spending for research involving animals, said the spending was just another example of government waste.

“Nothing better demonstrates FDA’s badly broken bureaucracy than the fact that just days after the first American on U.S. soil died from COVID-19, it wasted $10,000 on dog urine experiments instead of, say, buying 17,000 respirator masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19, or just about anything else really,” Anthony Bellotti, the president and founder of the White Coat Waste Project, said, referencing the Food and Drug Administration, which falls under HHS.

The White Coat Waste Project also urged the government against including similar spending in the coronavirus stimulus bill before it passed, citing spending for research that involved giving cocaine to monkeys and putting fish on treadmills that made it into the 2009 stimulus package.

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UC Davis has one of the most prestigious veterinary schools in the U.S., one of the features of which is a robust research program. The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has conducted work on amino acid levels in dog urine before. Colleges and universities around the country regularly receive grants from the federal government to conduct research, often in amounts far exceeding the $10,000 provided to UC Davis for this particular project.

For one example out of thousands, HHS awarded the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center $194,397 on March 12 for research on eating disorders.

But the timing and source of the dog urine research grant — HHS, one of the most important U.S. government agencies responding to the coronavirus — underscore that although the U.S. government often must spend large amounts of money to address major problems, there is also a significant amount of government spending that goes to far less urgent priorities, according to Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

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“It’s appalling that in early March FDA bureaucrats apparently felt $10,000 of taxpayers’ money was better spent on an order of dog waste than approving vital COVID test methods or inspecting lifesaving N95 respirators so they can be distributed to the public,” Gaetz said of the expenditure. “I’ll continue to work to cut FDA waste and red tape in order to better serve the American people in times of crisis and calm.”

The spending happened ahead of a $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief bill which included several provisions observers said had questionable relevance to combating the coronavirus.

One item that received a lot of attention was $25 million allocated for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The package also authorized $11 billion for three international development organizations, which some groups had said was critical for tamping down the coronavirus pandemic internationally. However, others criticized the funds as unnecessary international spending when the U.S. was struggling to control the outbreak within its own borders.

Nonprofit says older dogs need fostering amid coronavirus crisis, offers to pay the costs

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Exclusive: Fostering a senior dog in the time of coronavirus

Erin Stanton, owner of Susie’s Senior Dogs, is stepping up to help elderly dogs by covering the cost of fostering them during the coronavirus pandemic. She talks to Fox News about why senior dogs are in need and how we can help during isolation.

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Amid the escalating coronavirus pandemic, Erin Stanton, owner of Susie’s Senior Dogs (SSD), is stepping up to help elderly pets by covering the cost of fostering them.

“I figured a strong incentive to get these senior dogs into homes right now would be paying for everything,” said Stanton.

BUSCH OFFERING 3 MONTHS WORTH OF BEER TO ANYONE WILLING TO FOSTER A DOG

Stanton started SSD in 2014, and has been raising awareness and money for senior dogs ever since. COVID-19, however, provided new challenges for the plight of elderly dogs.

In an interview with Fox News, she explained that there is a greater need to get dogs out of shelters during the COVID-19 crisis. That’s because of limited volunteers, and the lessened ability for people to go to shelters and adopt. In turn, dogs receiving limited walks and care. It was a call to action for Stanton.

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“If someone is home and they have the time to foster, but maybe they lost their job and, you know, they can’t afford it … I didn’t want money to be the deterrent,” said Stanton. “So if they can’t afford to foster.… I thought, why don’t I remove all those barriers, and then hopefully it will lead to more seniors getting into foster homes right now.”

According to SSD’s March 16 Facebook post, the offer stands for “anyone in the United States who will be home from work/school/life for the foreseeable future and will have some time to foster a dog.”

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Stanton says that her typical classification of a senior dog is one that’s at least 7 years old, but she’s lowering it to 6 for this particular initiative. She notes that senior dogs are most likely already trained and require one big walk per day, as opposed to younger dogs who require upwards of an hour or two of exercise.

“It’s amazing to bring home a dog that has a few years on them,” said Stanton. “At the end of the day, it feels really good to know that you’re giving a home to a dog, or fostering a dog that a lot of people would reject.”

For more on Susie’s Senior Dogs, watch the full interview with owner Erin Stanton above.

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Emily DeCiccio is a video producer and reporter for Fox News Digital Originals. Follow her on Twitter @EmilyDeCiccio. 

Serbia’s dog walking ban sparks outrage among pet owners

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The Serbian government’s decision on Saturday to ban dog walking in an effort to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus  is provoking outrage among pet owners.

Frustrated dog owners have taken to social media to warn that the ban could harm their dogs’ health and cause frustration and anxiety for both the animals and their owners.

A woman walks with dogs in a deserted street amid the coronavirus outbreak in downtown Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, March 26, 2020. 
(AP)

Veterinarian Nenad Milojkovic said protecting animal rights is a test for a society during hard times such as an epidemic. He said skipping the evening walk could worsen the condition for the dogs with urinary problems and “aggravate basic hygienic conditions in people’s homes.”

Serbia’s government made the decision on Saturday, revoking a previously introduced 20-minute permission for dog owners to walk their pets.

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The country has imposed some of the harshest measures in Europe against the spread of COVID-19, including a total ban on movement for people over 65 years and a curfew from 5 p.m. until 5 a.m.

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As of Sunday, Serbia has nearly 660 cases with 10 confirmed deaths, according to the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.