Hugging Dog Of Instagram Gets $10K Donation After Chelsea Fire

CHELSEA, NY — Fans of Instagram's favorite hugging dog have donated nearly $60,000 to support the dog and her owner after a devastating fire destroyed their Chelsea apartment.

One well-wisher, who has never met the beloved golden retriever, contributed $10,000 to the campaign.

"I just thought it sounded like the most awful thing in the world," Jennifer Fritz told the New York Daily News. "This poor guy and his sweet dog — I just can’t imagine."

Loubie the golden retriever and her owner Cesar Fernandez-Chavez were left homeless in a massive blaze that engulfed much of their Chelsea apartment building on Christmas. The fire broke out on West 19th Street at about 3:35 p.m. on Monday, authorities said. The fire left one civilian and one firefighter with minor injuries, authorities said. The blaze was started by unattended candles in an apartment, fire officials said.

Loubie, who is famous on Instagram and throughout the streets of Chelsea for "hugging" people who stop to pet her, was out for a walk with Fernandez-Chavez when the blaze broke out.

A GoFundMe to support Loubie and Fernandez-Chavez has raised nearly $60,000 as of Wednesday morning. In total, more than 1,200 people have donated to the cause.

"It’s been a very hard day for us. Pretty much, I feel number after what happened, and we lost everything," Fernandez-Chavez said in an Instagram post with Loubie. "But on the other hand, reading your comments, your messages, it’s been amazing; your support, your love towards Loubie and and towards me."

"Thank you to Jennifer," Fernandez-Chavez continued. "I don’t think we ever met but we would love to meet you one day."

Image credit: Courtesy of GoFundMe