Generally speaking, when con artists scam good, honest people out of their money or possessions, the Internet doesn’t give them an ovation, but somehow, Princess is different.

This clever fox of a shar-pei or shar-pei mix (to our eye, anyway) knows how to work that cute, worried-looking face of hers into a delicious free meal – and precisely where to go to get it.

Her owner, Betsy Reyes, posted on Facebook that Princess leaves the house at night and heads straight to the local McDonald’s parking lot, where she pretends to be a stray in order to get free food. Employing all the standard tactics your own dog uses to glean scraps from the table at dinner, Princess – simply put – works it, scoring fries, burgers and all the fast-food goodies dogs worldwide can only dream of.

“If you see my dog @ [sic] the McDonald’s on shields, quit feeding her fat ass,” Reyes wrote on Facebook. “She’s not even a stray dog. She’s just a gold diggin’ [email protected]@ b*tch that be acting like she’s a stray so people will feel bad for her & feed her burgers.”

The best part? Reyes headed out to bust her dog in the act, taking video in the process as she lurked like a private investigator in the McDonald’s lot, watching Princess work her crafty magic on the patrons. Have you ever seen any busker or panhandler with a success rate like this?

And this hilarious one where Princess recognizes that she’s been busted begging!

For sure, there are healthier habits a dog could have – and we hope that Reyes finds a way to keep her dog from getting out (and super-sizing herself with meals way too fatty, salty and rich!) – but we really have to give this crafty pup credit for her smarts. And admit that we, too, enjoy a good, crispy sleeve of French fries once in awhile.

She is, without a doubt, one of the most enterprising puppers we’ve had the pleasure of seeing go viral on the Internet.

Sweet Grandma Tala arrived at Frederick County Animal Control as a stray and was never reclaimed.

Though she quickly became a staff and volunteer favorite, it quickly became apparent that confinement does not suit Tala.

Left in her kennel, she would panic, trying desperately to escape. She broke three canine teeth this way. As a short-term solution, staff kept her with them in their offices or at the front desk, greeting visitors. And seriously – watch the below video to hear more about her and see how sweet she really is!

Then Amy, a foster care provider, stepped up to take Tala in. Amy has found ways to keep Tala from hurting herself (or Amy’s home) when left alone in the house.

In her foster home, Tala has proven herself to be wonderful with both children and cats. Tala also has found a new friend in the family’s puppy, who plays with her every morning.

Thanks to the Grey Muzzle Organization, Frederick Friends of Our County Animal Shelter has been able to cover most of Tala’s medical needs. First and forement, she needed her three broken canine teeth extracted. Second, Tala has some of the health concerns that older dogs often develop. Most notably, she’s had a number of tumors removed.

Tala’s foster family loves her very much. In fact, Tala sleeps every night with their older daughter. Though they wish they could adopt her themselves, they have found that Tala is a little too interested in their goats and chickens. But this active senior girl is happy and loved while she waits for her forever family to come along and fall in love with her.

When this family adopted Kurbis, who literally “fell into their lap” at a senior dog adoption event, they could feel how much he wanted to be loved, but his past was a mystery. In the time since, he’s learned to be a dog and they say it even seems like he’s getting younger!

Why you should adopt a senior!

Senior dogs are often overlooked at shelters and rescues because of their age, passed over for cute, little puppies. Those puppies are undeniably cute, but not every household has the time or energy for a puppy. They can be challenging (which is why so many end up back at the shelter!). Senior dogs on the other hand, often come with life skills at the ready. Important ones like leash walking, not going in the house, even tricks! They most often know that toys and treats are for chewing, while shoes are not!

Seniors often love to sleep and or snuggle the day away, and while they need exercise like any other dog, it’s usually less.

The fit easily into a household and make wonderful companions (for instance, with human seniors, who not only appreciate their low maintenance, but their calm, age and wisdom!).

Senior dogs may not have as many years as a pup, but they often have many more than you’d think. Just think about Kurbis in the above video from The Dodo‘s Pittie Nation — he seemed to get younger once he was in a happy place with a family who loved and cared for him!

Oftentimes, people mistakenly think that older dogs in rescue or at a shelter were problematic, which is why they ended up homeless. Most of the time, this isn’t the case. There are many reasons people give up their older pets. Some arrive at the shelter because their owner had to move or even passed away. But more importantly, it’s not generally their “fault.”

These dogs need homes, just like the younger ones. Give a senior a chance. Most people find it to be an incredibly rewarding experience.

A stray dog ran onto the pitch during a National Football League match in Gori, Georgia on Sunday, much to the delight of the crowd. The dog spent around three minutes on the field, and clearly hoped to elicit a bit of affection from the players.

Wondering about that ear tag…?

So were we. So here’s the deal on that:

Back in the day, stray dogs were often shot or otherwise in this part of the world. In recent years, more humane euthanization methods were common practice – there has been a serious overpopulation problem for a very long time (dog owners have exacerbated this; many fail to spay and neuter their own pets), but several years ago, inspired by the work of animal rights activities, many governments implemented a new strategy: capturing the dogs to vaccinate and sterilize them.

Those who undergo these procedures are marked with ear tags.

It has been helping to slowly stem the population of strays. And although rescues and shelters exist, with volunteers helping the dogs find permanent, loving homes, the problem is so large – animals number in the thousands in some cities – that not all the pups can be helped.

In many cases, officials have reported that owner sterilization of their domestic pets would do as much, if not more, to help control the problem.

Georgia has its own “humane society,” in fact: the Georgian Society for the Protection and Safety of Animals, which was founded in 2006. Here’s a link to their Facebook page.

Earlier this year, the GSPSA began the “Guardian From A Distance” program, which enables individuals to become remote owners of GSPSA shelter dogs – such owners care after specific dog. In this case the animal is in the shelter, while the owner facilitates monthly donation (remote ownership fee) in the amount determined by GSPSA.

Interested in learning more? Check out this link. (And then go give your own dog a much-deserved belly rub!)

Surely by now you dog lovers have heard of the “snoot challenge,” but in case you and your dogs have been living under a rock of late, a quick Instagram search of the #snootchallenge hashtag proves that more than 11,000 dogs around the world have already jumped in the latest internet challenge fray. Some accomplish, some fail; both can be hilarious, as the many online videos prove.

What’s the snoot challenge?

In it, a person creates a space with his or her fingers — generally round, triangular or (awww!) heart-shaped. They then hope the dog will approach and stick its snoot in said hole (which makes for a super-cute boop-snoot photo-op).

Pics and videos of the dogs accomplishing or miserably failing the challenge have taken over various social media sites and are melting hearts and inspiring laughter everywhere. Some dogs seem to know exactly what they’re supposed to do; others, not so much.

Some are lured in with treats, others seems to have already been treat-conditioned.

Of course, this is the Internet, so there’s been no shortage of people finding reasons why the snoot challenge is dangerous, demeaning, or otherwise detrimental to the dogs’ health or self-esteem, but reports from vets have countered these claims, noting that the snoot challenge can help condition dogs to having their faces handled — a great trait for safe application of medical exams!

Additionally, some experts say that the snoot challenge can help to train dogs to wear a muzzle or post-surgical cone if ever necessary, aiding them in growing comfortable putting their snouts into small openings.

As long as owners are gentle, there is no harm to be caused during the #snootchallenge! And of course, if your pet seems uncomfortable, you should not force the dog to perform the challenge.

Christian Shenouda was going to buy a dog, but when someone told him he should visit a shelter to adopt instead, it seemed like a good idea. That’s where he met, and fell in mutual forever-love, with a pittie mix named Ray. Shenouda told The Dodo’s Pittie Nation that Ray’s winning smile won him over, and Shenouda found himself quickly becoming something of a pit bull ambassador. His relationship with Ray made him want to share his experience and show the world what wonderful companions this misunderstood dogs can be.

Like the rest of the world’s adoption proponents, Shenouda (sadly!) could nto adopt all the dogs, but as a photographer, he found he could donate some time to helping shelters — so often overwhelmed with the sheer numbers they have to move through their system — getting better photos of their residents, images that capture their winning pibble personalities far more accurately than the sad snapshots so often taken when they first come through the shelter doors.

Since then, Shenouda’s photos have helped countless dogs – pups just like his own beloved Ray – find their loving forever homes. He also does photo sessions for families, too, capturing pups and their people in beautiful moments they will cherish.

“Ever since I adopted my rescue pup Ray, it’s been puppy love ever since!” Shenouda writes on his website. “Dogs inspire us to live life to the fullest and there’s nothing I love more than to capture and share those moments!”

Check out Christian’s website here!

A note about dogs who smile….

Animal behaviorists have noted dog “smiles” to be a submissive gesture of appeasement, one that shows you and other people that he or she is non-agressive, not a threat. Submissive grins, in dog-speak, are a way to show deference to another individual. Generally, say experts, these grins are associated with increased movement and a body posture that is lower than the dog’s normal stance (remember when Ray was belly-crawling for his boiled chicken?).

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It’s not uncommon for young children to be a little frightened (and sometimes oddly intrigued) by the mall escalator, but a dog? Well, we admit they must seem freaky to dogs who aren’t acclimated! At least this dog’s owner has no problem giving her Labradoodle the loving support it needs to make the trip!

This pup was straight-up “NOPE!” when it came time to use the lift at a Georgia mall, but found that once ensconced in human companion’s arms (and facing the other way) he’d be able to manage.

Giving her what can only be described as a lanky-limbed dog’s version of a bear hug, he bravely navigated his fears while enjoying some comforting rocking.

Admit it, you’d do this for your dog, too, wouldn’t you? ?

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Carlos was in bad shape when rescuers found him wandering the streets of Puerto Rico. And when the woman who would become his mom saw his photo, she knew he was meant to join the family. Since then, he’s become an incredible companion to her three small children and she is proud to be a pit bull mom and an advocate for this so-often-misunderstood breed.

Follow him on Instagram here!

Great story from the Dodo’s Pittie Nation!