I adopted Oz from Animal Haven all the way back in 2014. Back then, all I knew was that he was a shy, wiggly little dog with giant ears and big eyes that blinked one after the other instead of both at the same time. Now, at 18 years old, Oz has somehow become a snaggletoothed celebrity.

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In our 11 years together, Oz has accomplished more than most people do in entire lifetimes. He's been the inspiration for short films, memes, and songs, been a playable character in a video game, and even had a French fry recipe developed and named in his honor. He’s been immortalized in over 300 pieces of art, and even as a tattoo.

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He became an unofficial high school mascot, with an entire school becoming covered in pictures of him. Oz-shaped keychains became a coveted fashion accessory, and covering phone cases with his image turned into a widespread fad. "Ozing" became a common prank where students would hide stickers of Oz on each other's backs. There was even a dedicated “Oz Gang” of students who prowled the halls, spreading his message.

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Oz is the face of a city-wide graffiti campaign. If you look hard enough, you'll find him hidden in nooks, crannies, platforms, and lampposts across the five boroughs. You might even find him in other states. He’s flown first class in his own seat and snoozed his way down the coast in the Amtrak silent car. He's called three states home, and visited six more. He’s been to movies and concerts, art galleries and museums. He’s eaten everywhere from the diviest diners to the fanciest restaurants. He’s made appearances at happy hours in the grungiest Brooklyn bars and the bougiest Midtown brunch spots.

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Oz has brought more joy and excitement to more people than anyone could ever have imagined. These days he mostly likes to nap and eat French fries (Sunday Fryday is the most important day of the week), but he's always ready to hop in his bag for a trek across the park, across The Island, or across the country. Despite being an impressive 18 years old, age hasn't quite caught up to him yet.

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Every day, Oz's fanbase spreads and the list of his achievements grows. His ears are as big as they've ever been, and his eyes still blink in their weird way, but he's not just that shy, wiggly dog anymore. Oz is an icon. He's a superstar. He's a celebrity for the ages.