While some kids have lemonade stands, a young boy from Florida “stole” a dog and started a petting zoo, asking people $1 for a pet—then the canine’s owner showed up, and internet users can’t cope with what happened next.
In a viral Instagram video shared on September 7 by 30-year-old Monte, under the username @dorka_bel, the poster can be seen confronting the boy, after he asks him for $1 to pet his own German shepherd. “A kid stole my dog to start a petting zoo,” Monte writes in the caption, as he asks the child: “What are you doing? That’s my dog!”
The little petting zoo is complete with a crate for the pup; a desk for the “business owner” with a board saying “$1 petting zoo;” and even a toy cash register to take payments. Despite it being his dog, the poster can’t resist the urge to pet her, agreeing to pay the $1 fee to the child.
Monte told Newsweek that his pet, Dorka, is a retired bomb sniffing dog and his partner in Afghanistan for years. But she is also sweet and friendly and loves the attention, so she truly enjoyed her time there with the child.
As for the boy who stole Dorka to start his business, the poster said that it is actually his nephew, so there was no theft after all.
Monte said that, while this whole experience started as a funny skit, people driving around the neighborhood actually did stop to pet the pup and even offered to pay the $1.
“My nephew also enjoyed the experience and, while we did let people who stopped by pet Dorka, we didn’t actually charge people,” Monte said.
The video quickly went viral on social media and it has so far received over 1.6 million views and more than 93,000 likes on the platform.
One user, Candy_clounds, commented: “The dog was like: Don’t worry dad when I finish my shift I go home.”
Defcurse posted: “I believe that kid and your dog have business agreement.”
Another user, Ardis_rivas, wrote: “This kid is gonna go places in life. he sees an opportunity to make money and he takes it!!!”
Renujayajaya added: “The kido is smart, the setup’s good … he’s gonna be a great businessman!”