Big Poppa, the Internet’s New Favorite Dog, Becomes New Face of the Quarantine
No, not the Notorious B.I.G. But Big Poppa the local English bulldog that has stolen the internet’s heart! Rae Ellis, a costume designer who lives in Midtown, Atlanta, recently posted a photo to Twitter of her English bulldog, Big Poppa, that broke our collective hearts.
Big Poppa has been so sad today, I think he miss playing with the kids in the building. He just watches them from the patio pic.twitter.com/gVooqvZ5oI
— Rae Elle (@RaeElle) April 22, 2020
The tweet immediately started to trend on Twitter, with celebrities like Ellen Degeneres weighing in, and even broke the hearts of non dog lovers alike.
I am not a dog person but I have thought about Big Poppa all day.
— roxane gay (@rgay) April 23, 2020
not being dramatic but I would literally die for big poppa
— Maisie Williams (@Maisie_Williams) April 22, 2020
Totally normal to see a sad quarantine dog and burst into tears. #bigpoppa
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) April 22, 2020
As a very social dog, three-year-old Big Poppa–who also goes by Pop, Biggie, and Popsicle–has had a hard time adjusting to life without others. He especially enjoyed playing with the kids in his mom’s courtyard and chasing people on scooters and skateboards. “He loves children more than anything,” said his owner, Rae Ellis.
Before sheltering-in-place, Big Poppa and his mom also enjoyed sitting on the patio outside of MetroFresh near Piedmont Park and saying hi to other dogs. “He loves to look at people there while he’s out there. He is a french fry lover. Papi’s on Ponce is not too far from of us, so when I walk him, I know some of the staff members, so we’ll walk there and [he’ll get some French fries] and walk back home. He’ll pick up little treats on the way.”
Outside of actual dog food, Big Poppa does love the occasional snack. He loves sweet potatoes, Rachel Ray’s chicken pot pie, and “ice cream” made for dogs. “He has had a puppicino from Starbucks before, but he likes the vanilla doggie ice cream [from Publix] the most!”
As a local costume designer working in Georgia’s TV and film industry, Rae also brought Big Poppa to work with her.
“Big Poppa misses [being on set]. Ever since I got him, I would bring him to work, and he would just roam from trailer to trailer, to actors’ trailers, to production’s trailers, and everyone would give him love and treats.”
Despite Big Poppa’s stay-at-home blues, Rae and Big Poppa plan to keep hunkered down for the most part. “We’re going to quarantine for a few more weeks at least. We get out for a walk. I’ll probably take a longer walk [now] to Arden’s Garden and get a juice, to support other businesses. We’ll be doing the same thing we’ve been doing.”
To support Big Poppa and his doggie ice cream treat addiction in this difficult time, you can purchase items from his mom’s online shop, “Shop Vacay Rae!” You can also follow Big Poppa on Instagram at instagram.com/PoptheBulldog.
