Three years ago, content creator Oga Duke (Oreoluwa Osoba) adopted a puppy to feel closer to his late uncle. He never imagined Duke would become the companion who helped him survive grief, saved his life and helped him build a community.

In this story, Oreoluwa opens up about the bond with his puppy and why he hopes more people will see pets as family, not just animals.

I got Duke in 2023, at one of the lowest points in my life. I’d just lost my uncle, who was a second father to me, and I wasn’t coping well. I’d always been “too busy” whenever he asked me to visit. The day before I finally planned to see him, he died. 

I carried that guilt for months.  I became angry with the world,  withdrew  from everyone and distracted myself with working out, but nothing helped. If anything, I only became depressed. 

Growing up, my uncle always had dogs. They were a big part of our relationship. He bought me my first dog, and caring for animals became something we shared. After he passed, getting another dog felt like the closest thing to holding on to those memories.

That’s how I found Duke. A family in South Africa had just had a litter of puppies, and I adopted one. At first, I panicked. He’d just flown in and was throwing up. I remember thinking, What have I done? But I’d already committed, so there was no turning back.

Barely two days later, I hit another low. I filled Duke’s bowl with food, locked myself in my room, and decided I didn’t want to keep living. 

But Duke wouldn’t eat. Instead, he stayed outside my door, barking and scratching relentlessly until my neighbours came to check on us. Everything I’d planned fell apart.

When I finally opened the door, he climbed onto the bed and curled up beside me. It felt like he understood how I felt. That was the beginning of our bond.

Before Duke, physical touch wasn’t my thing. I hated hugs and rarely showed affection. But Duke would come looking for cuddles, and I quickly realised that being close to me made him happy. Without noticing it, I started changing too. 

The more I cared for him, the lighter I felt. Gradually, I found my way to happiness again.

Becoming a dog dad made me more patient. You can’t stay angry around a dog for long. He’ll just stare at you like he has no idea why you’re upset. Eventually, you soften.

When I started posting Duke online, Nigerians didn’t get it. People said I needed help because they couldn’t understand why a grown man would treat his dog like family.

Ironically, everything changed once our content started getting attention internatonally. Now, strangers stop me just to ask how Duke is doing. I’m glad we made more Nigerians see that pets deserve love, too.

But as Duke became more popular, I also realised I had to protect him. Some brands treat him like a prop and don’t care about his welfare during shoots. I’ve walked away from opportunities because of that. No amount of money is worth compromising his well-being. 

I even trust his instincts with people. Duke is one of the friendliest dogs you’ll ever meet, so if he doesn’t like someone, I pay attention. A friend used to frequent our place with toys and treats, but Duke refused to go near him. Later, I found out the person had been trying to scam me. 

I once liked someone who said she couldn’t date me because she didn’t want to compete with Duke for my attention. That made me realise that anyone I end up with has to understand that Duke isn’t just a pet. He’s family. 

Duke has also changed how I think about responsibility. In Nigeria, people get pets because they’re cute without understanding how demanding they are. They need proper food, healthcare, and attention. 

Pets aren’t accessories you pick up only when you’re in the mood. They depend on you, and loving them means showing up every single day. 

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