A few weeks ago, we shared what we consider to be the best spots of the year, starring ARISTOPETS or featuring pets in a prominent role. Among them, we chose the Loterías y Apuestas del Estado Christmas commercial: Danielle. Not for the love story between a beautiful and mysterious alien girl and a nice but unlucky boy, but for the presence of a dog that stole our hearts.
Before you continue reading, we invite you to refresh your memory and watch the short version of the spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Nhk7hiaz1k
The ARISTODOG couldn't be cuter, right?
Well, the real story of this small Portuguese Podengo has recently come to light. And, unfortunately, it has been quite harsh. Neither magic nor luck have been very present for much of his dog life.
Max, as the dog is named, started suffering very early. A few days after being born, he was separated from his mother. He was abandoned in a shoebox at the door of an animal shelter in Seville: El Buen Amigo.
He spent a good amount of time there until a family showed interest in him and decided to adopt him. It seemed his luck was about to change, that he would be able to start over in a home where he would be loved and respected… but unfortunately, it wasn't so. The family didn't quite like Max's mischievous and somewhat untamed character; he didn't fit with their lifestyle, he didn't meet their expectations. This lack of feeling led to Max being returned to the shelter.
Being abandoned twice was not very promising. Not only in the eyes of the shelter members (who know that certain dogs have a harder time than others finding a family), but in Max's own eyes. Although they can't verbalize it, dogs that have suffered abandonment lose faith and trust. Many of them fall into depression and have a really hard time… But luckily, Max's life took a sudden turn when a woman named Ainhoa appeared.
Ainhoa is an ARISTOPETER who grew fond of Max and didn't hesitate to take him in and bring him to Madrid. The beginnings were not entirely easy due to Max's character. But his new owner persevered, sure that things would change. She sought help from a dog trainer, and together they managed for Max to channel and dose his energy.
In fact, acting began to be part of Max's life. It became that hobby that kept him focused, calm, and balanced. First, there were some cuts on Antena 3; later a spot for an insurance company; a cameo in a "La Casera" spot… and so on until his moment of glory: the 2017 Christmas Lottery commercial, directed by Alejandro Amenábar, where he shares the screen with Charlotte Vega and Dani Luque. Both, by the way, are true ARISTOPARENTS. Charlotte is Luca's mother, while Dani is Bimba's father.
The similarities between Max's real story and the fictional story are considerable. In real life, Max is abandoned. In fiction, he gets lost. But both cases serve us well to reflect on the luck of dogs and on what we can do as a society to prevent stories like this from repeating. And to help all those who have suffered bad luck, to experience a fortunate twist in their life story…
