Anonymous Donor Uses $1000 in Dogecoin Earnings to Pay Adoption Fees at Daytona Shelter

Naledi Ushe
·2 min read

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A donor anonymously paid the adoption fees for 21 dogs at a Daytona Beach, Florida, shelter on Saturday.

The donor, dubbed Doge Community, won big using cryptocurrency Dogecoin and put $1000 of those funds toward the adoption fees of dogs that were currently ready to be adopted from Halifax Humane Society, the shelter's Community Outreach Director Barry Kukes tells PEOPLE.

"A generous donor, Doge Community has paid the adoption fees of all dogs in the adoption kennel at the time that were still available," the shelter shared on Sunday along with photos of some of the animals. "Special thanks to Doge Community for their kindness and generosity."

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The Halifax Humane Society also clarified that dogs who have been brought to the center since Saturday will have an adoption fee.

"All adopters will still need to qualify for their adoption," the shelter added.

KuKes tells PEOPLE the anonymous donor "did not adopt a dog, but is a dog lover and wanted to do something nice with her financial windfall from her Dogecoin investment."

Dogecoin's value increased after it was popularized on Thursday when Elon Musk tweeted a photo of a dog captioned, "Doge Barking at the Moon," and liked tweets related to the cryptocurrency.

The anonymous donor to the Halifax Humane Society "said Dogecoin has changed her life," KuKe's tells PEOPLE.

"Many adopters that day were unaware that the adoption had already been paid but decided to pay it forward and gave the adoption fee as a donation as well," he adds. "There are good people in Daytona Beach, FL and we are very grateful for the donation from Doge Community."

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KuKes also told Fox 6 that the donation came at a time of need as Halifax Humane Society had just taken in 42 dogs from a suspected dog-fighting ring and were tight for space to take in more animals.

"We've got some space now. We're not at total capacity, but it changes almost on a daily basis. They come out as quickly as they come in," he said.