We’ve all had the feeling at some stage when try as we might, the Christmas spirit just isn’t coming. This appears to be the case for famously grumpy Siberian husky Anuko, judging from the results of his festive photoshoot.
With Anuko however, looks can be deceiving. “He has a dark black mask around his face that makes him look that way. It runs in his family,” his owner Jasmine told Bored Panda. His surly, steely expression isn’t down to any kind of innately grumpy character, quite the opposite in fact. He is actually a very relaxed and kind dog who shows a great enthusiasm for the fun things in life. “He’s mostly chilled out, very quiet. He’s not overbearing so doesn’t like cuddles that much, but if you leave the room he will follow. He’s like my little shadow and he intervenes when he sees necessary - something that’s benefited me a lot regarding my mental health” Jasmine told us.
Jasmine found Anuko aged just 5 weeks old, as she was struggling at the time with mental health issues and heard that many like her had benefited from getting a dog. The pair bonded immediately and Anuko has played a huge part in her recovery and wellbeing. “When I got him I was quite suicidal and depressive, I didn’t have any friends or a job and I’d quit school. I lived my life in bed, practically,” she told us. “Thank goodness he came into my life because without him I’d probably still be in bed, or worse. He encouraged me to get out - the fresh air and so many hours outdoors with him did me a lot of good.”
While Anuko may appear to resent the very concept of Christmas, he actually doesn’t find it so bad. We did however share a genuinely miffed moment of Anuko’s a couple of years back, when realising he’d been tricked into believing Jasmine had thrown him a ball. The pics went viral and have changed Jasmine’s life completely, she now runs several social media and webpages dedicated to Anuko and to huskies in general. “I run a website called Snowdog Guru, where I help other Snowdog owners,” she told Bored Panda. “They’re a unique breed and come with a lot of responsibility. Because of my expanding website though, I made the decision that I wanted to go to vet school which I’m applying for this year. None of it would’ve happened without him coming into my life.”
So it appears that no matter how grumpy Anuko seems to be on the outside, he and Jasmine could not be happier in each other’s company and the story really illustrates the power of the bond between human and animal. Scroll down below to check out Anuko's hilariously grumpy (though not really) photoshoot!
