The ‘We Rate Dogs’ page was started back in 2015, and ever since then, Matt has successfully commented on thousands if not millions of good boys’—and girls’—pictures. Over the years, his heartwarming account has amassed more than 9.2 million followers eager to see what adorable critter is going to be rated next.
But that’s not all; Matt is also responsible for another dog-related social media account, ‘Thoughts of Dog’, which allows more than 3.5 million followers to get a glimpse of what’s happening inside the head of man’s best friend.
In addition to all the amusing and heartwarming content Matt provides, he’s also responsible for numerous good deeds related to animal well-being. Owner of an adopted elderly gentleman—a German shepherd named Doug—himself, he’s a huge supporter of campaigns that provide (medical) care to dogs in need.
A few years ago, in 2020, he even launched one himself; known as the ‘15/10 Foundation’, it is dedicated to helping canines in shelters that have behavioral or medical issues. (If you’re wondering what inspired the name for the foundation, you probably already guessed that it’s a dog rating; the highest ever in the history of ‘We Rate Dogs’, as a matter of fact.)
The golden hearts of the people behind the ‘15/10 Foundation’ and similar noteworthy initiatives—as well as those who support them—are undoubtedly deserving of a standing ovation, considering the significance of the work that they do.
But even with the support from individuals or animal welfare organizations and foundations, some animal shelters face difficulties trying to keep on running. PBS reports that during the first year or so of the pandemic, as much as one-in-five US households adopted a pet, but unfortunately, many of them are likely to go back as economic hardships hit their owners, which might result in a crisis in regards to capacity.
“There’s no question that pet ownership is getting more and more expensive and some folks on the lower end of the income spectrum are just going to get priced out,” chief credit analyst at LendingTree, Matt Schulz, told PBS.
PBS emphasized that in January last year, there were reportedly roughly 60,000 more dogs and 40,000 more cats waiting to be adopted than there were the year before.
More recent statistics, provided by Shelter Animals Count, revealed that over the first six months of 2023, more than 2,000 shelters in the US have taken in over 1.6 million animals, roughly 784,000 of which were strays and 404,000 were relinquished by their owners.
Data shared by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) revealed that there are roughly 6.3 million companion animals entering animal shelters in the US every year, roughly half of which are dogs. It also pointed out that, back in 2015-2016, roughly 44% of all US households had a dog (35% opted for a cat instead).
Looking at these pictures, it’s clear to see why so many people choose dogs to be their companions; just look at the puppy eyes, mischievous faces, and wiggly tails on these critters. But even if a person can’t adopt one, looking at their pictures alone can have a positive effect on their well-being.
Researchers have found that looking at cute dog pics for at least five minutes can positively affect an individual’s sense of well-being, as well as help them gather their focus. (Here’s your excuse if a boss ever catches you scrolling away through pictures shared by ‘We Rate Dogs’ during work hours.)
If this list of adorable doggos (all 15/10 if you ask me) was not enough for you to regain focus, we have plenty more in store for you. You can find Bored Panda’s previous editions on ‘We Rate Dogs’ dating as far back as 2016, as well as a few more recent ones, from 2021 and 2022, for instance. Continue scrolling through the heartwarming lists and consider this a reminder to support a local charity or an animal shelter, if you have the means to.