One advantage of having social media is that it gives us access to some really amazing moments we might not otherwise see. Many of them include our furry friends and the unique relationships they have with other animals as well as humans. @nbcsphilly’s TikTok account is the latest to make us stop scrolling and smile at something we wouldn’t normally catch unless we were there in person.
At a recent Phillies’ game, a Labrador Retriever puppy named Tugger had a very special interaction with the Phillie Phanatic, the Philadelphia Phillies’ official mascot. And this pup’s sweet encounter with this big, green bird is everything!
@nbcsphilly not a toy NOT A TOY! 😂
I’m sure this mascot just made this doggie’s day! Seriously, how many times does one meet a life-size, furry, green birdie to play with?
Honestly, I just wonder what this puppy was thinking. @nbcsphilly joked in the post caption, “Not a toy. Not a toy!” Though, who could fault this Lab if he did see this fun bird as a new toy to play with. As you can see in the video, Tugger was eager to cuddle up to the Phanatic.
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Many of the video viewers were on board with that train of thought, and they had a few laughs in the comments. @dannyedelman13 imagined what Tugger was thinking and playfully wrote, “Oh, a giant fluff chew thing that smells like cheesesteaks and hot dogs. Don’t mind if I do!” When you put it like that, it sounds like a dog’s wish come true.
Not every puppy would have responded like Tugger. @amulv315 chimed in and wrote, “So cute! My dogs would be terrified if they met the Phanatic! Lol.” According to MLB.com, Tugger is a service pup-in-training who will one day be paired with a veteran with disabilities, so it makes sense that he’s so caring.
And Tugger was really excited to have some one-on-one time with this mascot. Here’s another video posted by the @phillies TikTok account where you can see more of their fun playtime. The sound they chose for this clip says it all, “bestie vibes only!”
@phillies Welcome to our new bestie, Tugger! #dogs #dogsoftiktok #mlb #phillies
Now I’m sure the Phillie Phanatic didn’t go into this baseball game thinking he’d make a lifelong friend in a sweet little pup, but they definitely bonded. This is a moment neither one of them will forget.
I know this enthusiastic puppy made my day. We can only hope that these two will have another impromptu playtime for us to watch soon!