The punk rock band blink-182 is bringing dogs in need of a new home backstage at their concerts. This initiative allows everyone involved to meet the furry friends, with the hope that some might choose to adopt them later.
The iconic band blink-182 has been on a major world tour for some time and has come up with something truly special. At certain locations on their tour, dogs in need of a new home were invited. Working in collaboration with local animal shelters or animal welfare organizations, everything necessary was arranged. The puppy named Chubbs in our featured photo is still looking for a home.
So far, there have always been four to five dogs behind the scenes, ready to be cuddled by the band, crew, venue staff, and catering teams. Everyone had the opportunity to play, cuddle, and get to know the animals.
“blink-182 felt that during a demanding tour, taking a break to spend time with dogs would benefit everyone’s mental health,” says Denise Angus from “Mattie’s Place,” a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to the well-being of dogs and supporting adoptions.
With this action, the band aims to raise awareness about adoption and show how many wonderful furry friends are hoping for a new and loving home.
Successful Adoption at Concerts
“Come to the show, get a dog,” shared bassist and singer Mark Hoppus along with photos of the playful puppies on his Instagram story. The puppies couldn’t be taken directly, as the respective animal welfare organizations have strict guidelines and an appropriate selection process.
“Anyone interested in adopting one of the puppies was asked to submit an application and a video or photos from the home check,” explains Coral from the “Endless Pawsabilities Rescue Society.” This nonprofit organization is based in Vancouver, Canada, focusing on animal welfare, preventing pet overpopulation, and facilitating adoptions.
They brought five furry friends to the blink-182 concert in Vancouver. Later on, one of the dogs was adopted by an employee of the Rogers Arena, where the concert took place. Quite a success.
The Canadian animal rescue organization “Mattie’s Place” brought four dogs to the show in Toronto. Much cuddling and many stories were exchanged here as well. Angus remarks that the fact that none of the dogs could be adopted that day is not a problem: “It was an afternoon meant to bring a smile to those supporting the blink-182 tour and perhaps create an opportunity for a dog to find a forever home through word of mouth.”
Sharing posts on social media can also help, she adds. Two of the four dogs present at the show have since found great homes. Whether the concert visit had anything to do with it is uncertain, but essentially, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that they found a loving family.
@scotiabankarena Rescue dogs from Mattie’s Place backstage at Blink-182? That’s pup punk 🐶 #ScotiabankArena #Toronto #Blink182 #MattiesPlace #RescueDogs ♬ original sound – Scotiabank Arena
When blink-182 recently stopped in Nashville for a concert, even Hoppus and his wife Skye couldn’t resist. They decided to adopt a little cuddly female puppy and named her Dolly. They shared pictures and their joy with their community on social media.
This way, their dog Doug gets a playmate on four paws. The Hoppus family also adopted Doug from animal welfare, just like the late Beagle Xavier. “She was found abandoned, starving, and with severe mange next to her dead sibling on the side of the road in Texas. Now she heals and chills in California,” writes the bassist about Doug in an older Instagram post.
Animal welfare and blink-182 Animal welfare has been an important topic for the band members for a long time. Most of them live a vegetarian, if not vegan, lifestyle and advocate for animal protection in various ways. In 2017, the band’s drummer, Travis Barker, was featured in a campaign by the animal welfare organization “Peta” with his daughter. With the words “Make noise for the animals. Raise your voice!” they raised awareness about the issue, aiming to sensitize more people.
Singer and guitarist Tom DeLonge also highlighted the issue of uncontrolled animal breeding in a “Peta” campaign called “Have the Balls” 14 years ago. He urged pet owners to spay and neuter their companions if possible.
“It’s very sad when animals roam around with no family and no organization to take care of them,” says DeLonge, adding: “But when you give them the opportunity to be part of your life, you realize how incredibly important they are.” The guitarist has had a Great Dane named Luna for many years.
In 2017, his bandmate Hoppus released the song “Not Every Dog Goes to Heaven,” featured on the album “Dog Songs,” which included various pieces by other artists advocating for the cause. All proceeds from the album went to animals suffering from the consequences of the severe Hurricane Harvey.
Whether the band will have little furry friends in tow at their concerts in Germany this fall is still uncertain.
