Meet Weego: Super Bowl Ad Sensation

Claudine Zap
·Claudine Zap

The 2012 Super Bowl took advantage of its largest audience ever -- 111 million -- to introduce fans to the plight of rescue dogs. Especially one cute, funny, and talented rescue dog named Weego.

Bud Light ran the ad, "Here We Go," which featured a rescue mutt who, when called, ("Here Weego!") fetches Bud Light in the bottle, six pack, and even a keg, which he can balance on like a trained circus animal.

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The commercial was a hit on the Web, already receiving 165,000 views on YouTube. The ad is for the benefit of Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). Fans are asked to head to the Bud Light Facebook page, where for every "like" the page receives, a dollar will be donated to the charity, up to $250,000. So far, the page has collected 24,000 Likes.

Many were wondering if Weego was a professional canine actor playing a rescue pooch. But amazingly, the fluffy mixed breed was really and truly saved from a California shelter by a dog trainer. The ad marks Weego's (real name Nugget) acting debut. And, may we humbly suggest, a star is born.

Elena Bicker, the exectuvie director of ARF, has Weego to thank for sudden attention to her organization. She said ever since the ad aired, "It's been crazy." She's been slammed with email and adoption queries.

She said Weego's appearance at the Super Bowl made a diffference. "This helps everybody understand what ARF does and what other shelters do. We hope adoptions across the United States will go up." She added that just like Weego, "There are dogs out there that need a second chance."

We're guessing that a lot of newly rescued pups might even be named Weego.