Tuna's journey: From unwanted pup to internet sensation

He has almost two million followers on Instagram and enjoys more popularity than many influencers. Who are we talking about? Mr Herschel Burns, known as Tuna, is a dog who has won the hearts of internet users worldwide. However, his story could have turned out very differently.

Many people are concerned about the problems of homeless dogs and cats. Unfortunately, not every abandoned animal is lucky enough to find a new, loving home. Tuna's unusual appearance scared away potential adoptive guardians until Courtney Dasher came into the picture.

It all started when Courtney moved to Los Angeles and felt lonely. On a friend's advice, she offered a temporary home to a dog of her choice. She wanted to see how she would handle the role of a dog mum. She wasn't entirely sure if having a pet permanently would be a good idea because she led an intense professional and social life and lived in a small flat. Nonetheless, she decided to visit a local market where one of the foundations presented animals for weekly adoption.

After a brief conversation with a volunteer, Courtney decided she wanted to try fostering a dog. It was time to choose a puppy. Among all of them, one particularly caught her attention. He was tiny, shivering from the cold, and had a significantly recessed lower jaw and a wrinkled neck. He might have seemed the ugliest to many, but to the woman, he was special.

Initially unsure whether she should become Tuna's permanent guardian, Courtney realised just before returning him to the foundation that she couldn't part with him.

On Tuesday evening, the day before I was supposed to return the puppy to Robin, I met with friends. I thought to myself that I loved this little dog and that I should adopt him, but everyone started discouraging me from this idea, explaining that I'm never home, so it would be irresponsible to adopt a dog—she confessed. But against all odds, she became the owner of Wormie, as the volunteer had named him.

After the adoption, she decided to change the dog's name. - When I was in school, I occasionally took care of a little boy named Herschel. A lovely name for a dachshund-type dog! So the choice fell on Mr Herschel Burns - she explained. But over time, she started calling him Tooney and then simply Tuna.

Courtney is not only active online; she wrote a book about her adventures with Tuna, which quickly gained popularity. Now, she participates in numerous events promoting animal adoption, often appearing with her four-legged friend by her side.

In 2011, she created an Instagram account for her pet, where she started sharing his photos. That's when his dog career really took off. Currently, Tuna has 1.9 million followers, and his specific underbite melts the hearts of many internet users.