Not taking pictures of your dog is nearly impossible. They’re just too cute, and Matt Nelson sure knows it. He’s been rating and commenting on pictures of puppers since 2015, which have added to thousands if not millions of witty lines.
What started as a Twitter poll on his personal account (asking if he should create one for rating dogs) grew to a project encompassing over 9 million followers, uncountable re-shares, several publications, charity work, and much more. All from commenting on our often weird, hilarious, adorable doggos.
In addition to providing entertaining content, Matt also makes sure to help dogs in need as much as he can. Ever since he started the Twitter account, he has shared numerous GoFundMe campaigns, raising millions of dollars to help provide medical assistance to the furballs that need it.
Moreover, back in 2020, he launched the ‘15/10 Foundation’ devoted to helping dogs with behavioral or medical issues that live in shelters. The name of the nonprofit marks the highest rating a critter has ever received on We Rate Dogs.
Matt’s initiative to help dogs with behavioral or medical issues didn’t stop with creating the foundation. He himself has adopted an elderly German shepherd named Doug. In addition to health problems, Doug’s old age makes him a less likely candidate to be picked up by people looking for a pet in shelters.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over 6 million companion animals end up in shelters each year in the US alone, roughly half of which (3.1 million) are dogs.
As We Rate Dogs’ popularity grew, it became clear that Twitter alone might not be enough for the public. And so, back in 2017, a book was born. Called “We rate dogs: The most adorable and hilarious pups you’ve ever seen”, it features some of the best picture-comment combos, as well as information behind the process of rating the puppers.
If you already have the book, you might want to check out the We Rate Dogs calendars as well. Started in 2019, these publications show off exceptional doggos with ratings higher than 10, and melt your heart one page at a time.
We Rate Dogs is not the only canine-related Twitter account that Matt Nelson is responsible for. He’s also the mastermind behind Thoughts of Dog, beloved and followed by over 3.6 million people on Twitter. Equally as charming, it allows us to catch a glimpse of what is happening in the heads of our four-legged friends.
In an interview with Twitter, Matt said he wanted to make people laugh, and he decided to use this social networking service to do it. “I was interested in comedy in general, and the platforms that people were using to create. So Twitter was a place where I attempted to do that. Eventually, I honed in on a style and a voice that worked for me,” he shared. (Twitter later rated Matt himself and gave him a solid 13/10.)
Content as such not only spreads positivity and provides a much-needed giggle, it also shows how colorful life with a dog can be. These images, as well as Matt’s own example, can encourage people to adopt or support dogs in whatever way they can.
The American Pet Products Association survey, presented by the Humane Society, revealed that roughly 40% of dogs in the US have been adopted from a shelter or a rescue group. In addition to that, it pointed out that as much as 7% of the country’s population owns one.