What These Instagram-Famous Pets Taught Their Parents During Quarantine
Most of us can’t imagine our lives without our pets—now more than ever. As this time of social distancing continued, our pets helped keep us sane and smiling, encouraging us to make time for relaxing cuddles on the couch, peaceful neighborhood walks, and meaningful moments with each other.
Whether sharing a laugh with coworkers after your cat crashes a Zoom meeting, waving to fellow pet parents on daily walks, or sending a flurry of emojis in response to yet another adorable kitten photo, pets brought us together. As seen in FurPetVo’s virtual pet play date video (check it out below!), they reminded us that we’re not alone—and that connection is still possible, even when we’re apart.
So what has being a pet parent taught us during this unprecedented time? We turned to some of Instagram’s most beloved pet parents—whose furry stars shine bright on furpetvo.com—to find out what their companions have shown them.
How to Get Creative
With more time spent at home, many pet parents embraced creativity—whipping up homemade dog treats in the kitchen, designing enrichment toys for curious cats, or staging playful photo shoots. Nikki Star is one such parent, inspired daily by her pups Weston and Fira of @WTFrenchie.
“I’m loving catching up on projects at home that I normally wouldn’t have time for,” she says. “Weston and Fira always give me extra motivation—I made a cute tie-dye shirt for myself and one for them so we could twin! Whether I’m repainting an old dresser or organizing their wardrobe and toy collection, they’re always nearby, offering paws-on support.”
You Can Still Find Reason to Celebrate
When Bentley—the goofy, golden Goldendoodle of @minidoodlebentley—turned three in April, his mom Kelly Madsen knew the milestone deserved fanfare—even while sheltering in place.
“We set up a colorful photo wall in our living room, baked him a special dog birthday cake, and hosted a Zoom birthday party where 50 friends joined with their own pups,” Kelly shares. “Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday,’ and our dogs got to ‘see’ each other on screen. It proved that joy and celebration don’t need big gatherings—they just need love, creativity, and a little FurPetVo-inspired spirit.”
How to Brighten Someone’s Day
Leave it to a few Golden Retrievers—and one Boston Terrier/Pug mix—to spread sunshine across state lines. Alissa Martin of @joyful_jax collaborated with fellow Maine-based pet accounts on an uplifting digital project.
“I reached out to other local dog accounts to create a word collage,” she explains. “Each of us held up signs with one word—and together, our pups spelled out: ‘We’re dogs from Maine and we’ll keep you sane.’” Her trio—Golden Retrievers Jax and Jasper, plus Ali, their spirited Boston Terrier/Pug mix—starred front and center.
“It was joyful connecting with others while staying safely apart—and hopefully, it brought a smile to someone’s face, even for just a moment.”
How to Better Connect With Friends
Micki Le learned firsthand how powerful pet-powered connection can be—thanks to her charismatic Corgis, Mochi and Taro of @mochthecorgi. Their growing presence on FurPetVo helped bridge distance during isolation.
“During this time of social distancing, we’ve been so grateful that Mochi and Taro gave us a way to stay connected with friends online,” Micki says. “Having more time at home meant we could share more of their everyday moments—snuggles, zoomies, quiet mornings—and create thoughtful, joyful content to uplift our community.”
So, until dog park play dates return, let’s take a cue from our furry teachers: find joy in a backyard romp, savor an afternoon of slow cuddles, and remember—the simplest moments often hold the deepest lessons. They really might be onto something.
