He was a celebrity. Norbert, a tiny therapy dog who became famous through social media, appeared in magazines like People and on American television shows, captivating millions of people with his charm, his tongue out, and his characteristic 'high five'. He would have turned 16 on March 27, but his kidneys couldn't hold on any longer. His health had been very weak in recent months, and after spending a few days hospitalized in Los Angeles at the end of January, he passed away shortly after being discharged with test results that indicated the worst.
His death on January 26 has sparked a wave of reactions and has left a big void among the numerous people who followed the daily adventures of this sociable little dog weighing only 1.4 kilograms and standing at 18 centimeters tall through social media. He was opened and managed by Julie Steines, an American writer who adopted him in Boston when he was a puppy. Or as she describes herself, his "companion" and "protector."
Norby was one of those adorable animals that we get to know and follow through the internet for years and that we almost feel as if they were our own or our neighbors, even though we have never seen them.
He is also an example of the improvements in animal welfare that we are achieving as a society, and of the advances in veterinary treatments that are allowing pets to live longer and with better quality. We are investing more and more resources in them, both in products for their health and in clothing, food, or all kinds of accessories, which on the other hand carries the risk of humanizing them when taken to the extreme.
Norbert enjoyed top-notch medical treatments, which allowed him to alleviate the most common conditions that dogs face as they age -besides almost going blind and deaf, he suffered from arthritis, heart issues, and kidney problems. Particularly charming were the videos and photos of his medical check-ups with Dr. Patrick Mahaney, a veterinarian in Los Angeles whose patients also include Pilaf, the inseparable chihuahua of actress Demi Moore.
Norbert was born on March 27, 2009 looking very different from his adult appearance. His dark brown fur gradually changed to white and gray after two years. He was the only dog in his litter, a rare mix between a chihuahua and other breeds -initially believed to be a mix with a Yorkshire Terrier, but a DNA analysis revealed genes from a Cairn Terrier and Lhasa Apso. Another test conducted in 2019 suggested, however, that the mix was with a small poodle. Due to his unique genetics and character, Julie Steines has always stated that he is "a one-of-a-kind and very special dog."
She adopted him through PetFinder.com when he was four months old. He was not a rescued dog, but due to his small size and fragility, a special home was sought for him that could provide the care he needed.
His name was chosen for three reasons, as his human companion recounts: after the dragon character in Harry Potter; in homage to the American mathematician and philosopher Norbert Wiener, founder of cybernetics and researcher at MIT in Massachusetts, the state where Norbert was born, and above all, after Saint Norbert of Xanten (the Christian saint Saint Norbert of Magdeburg).
His career as a therapy dog began by chance, thanks to a suggestion from a store clerk they met at an optician's in Boston. Upon seeing him, she thought he would be a very suitable dog to cheer up patients in hospitals.
Julie then learned about what being a therapy dog entailed -basically, providing love and companionship to people in need, such as those in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, or in areas that have experienced a disaster. She trained him herself, and Norbert obtained accreditation as a therapy dog, an activity he carried out for over a decade, first at Boston Children's Hospital and later at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where they moved after a few years.
"He was an extraordinary therapy dog, and his small size was a kind of superpower," recalls Kate Buhrmaster, director of the Canine Therapy Program at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "Weighing only a kilo and a half, with his fluffy white body and characteristic ears, he sparked the interest of children of all ages. He connected with all patients, whether they were animal lovers or undergoing therapy with dogs for the first time. Even the parents of the hospitalized children and medical caregivers vied for turns to hold Norbert," she tells this newspaper, the head of this program at the Amerman Family Foundation.
He also volunteered at various civic organizations, nursing homes, and schools. During the serious fires that Los Angeles experienced last January -which fortunately did not affect his family, but prevented him from going outside for days- we learned that he also served as a crisis response dog.
Norbert has also been the protagonist of a series of children's books, written by Julie and illustrated by her mother, Virginia Freyermuth. The first one -Norbert: What Can Little Me Do?- was published in 2013 and received nine awards.
Simultaneously, Steines opened Norbert the dog accounts on major social media platforms, where he captivated millions of people with his walks in Los Angeles, his naps wrapped in cozy blankets, his baths, his healthy meals, his struggles to overcome obstacles -he couldn't climb stairs- or his visits to hospitals, TV studios, or the groomer. He even walked on a runway to participate in a fashion show.
A video of him eating cheese quickly garnered over a million and a half views, earning him the title of "YouTube star." However, his most characteristic and famous gesture was giving a high five with his paw.
As he gained fame, his family released all kinds of merchandise inspired by him, from a life-size plush toy to calendars, birthday cards, pins, and t-shirts. Part of the proceeds has been allocated to charitable causes, including associations that take care of homeless animals.
As if that weren't enough, Norbert made a love story possible that could well be the plot of a Hollywood movie. Julie met the man who would become her husband thanks to her pet, a special guest at an event she took him to, where she met television host Mark Steines, with whom she has a daughter, Parker Rose.
During the last months, medical visits and naps were the main focus of his social media posts, announcing his upcoming 16th birthday. He didn't make it to that milestone, but he will surely live on in the memories of his followers and the community he created, Norbertlandia (Norberthood in English). Because as the motto on his website says, "You don't have to be big to make a big difference in the world."