You do not often hear about a dog preferring to spend his free time inside a bucket. But with dogs, nothing is ordinary, and each has a quirk that can brighten your day.
The play yards and kennels of Austin Animal Center are filled with stories, some heartbreaking and others uplifting, while a few are simply humorous. The tale of a dog named Centaur fits the last category. Strange but amusing, his behavior soon became unforgettable.
This Australian Cattle Dog entered the shelter as a stray on Saint Patrick’s Day. No one suspected he would soon captivate staff members and later, a wide audience.
Escape From The Texas Heat In A Bucket
One of the first to notice his odd charm was marketing and communication program manager Kelsey Cler, though even she could not anticipate how peculiar he truly was.
She described him as playful yet bright, with plenty of energy: traits not unusual at the shelter.
Everything seemed routine until early May, when an intense Texas heat wave hit. Staff suddenly began spotting Centaur perched in a small bucket each day, his paws tucked inside.
“I think he just wanted to cool off his tootsies in the water at first,” Kelsey said. The sight amused everyone, so they snapped a photo and shared it on the shelter’s official Facebook page.
Viewers reacted with mixed emotions. Many laughed, while others felt sympathy. Soon, a campaign began to provide Centaur with his own kiddie pool.
Centaur And His Bucket Obsession
Just days after the pool arrived, Austin Animal Center posted another update that drew a wave of responses.
Rather than using the new pool, Centaur still chose his bucket. “Well, it turns out Centaur is a certified weirdo,” Austin Animal Center posted on Facebook.
What seemed odd at first soon worked in his favor. His photos and story spread across social media, appearing on popular pages such as Introvert Memes and Dog Memes.
Thanks to his devotion to a bucket, Centaur transformed from a shelter dog into an online star. Sometimes life writes its own comedies.
From Bucket Fame To A Forever Home
Though fame may have added some pressure, Centaur occasionally gave the pool a chance. Still, he continued splitting his time between the two, never forgetting the bucket that started it all.
Not long after, Austin Animal Center shared joyful news on their Facebook profile. “Look who got adopted this week with his trusty bucket,” they stated and added, “That’s right, our OG certified weirdo Centaur has FINALLY found his person”.
With his silly and lovable nature, Centaur is sure to keep bringing joy to his new family.
In the end, that simple bucket turned out to be his vessel to a new and happy life.