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| Willenhall dog walker says viral video meeting 'made my day' | |
| (25 days later) | |
| Ivan said it had made his day that someone stopped to speak to him about his dogs | Ivan said it had made his day that someone stopped to speak to him about his dogs |
| A dog walker who featured on a video that has been viewed more than three million times on Instagram said its popularity had left him "lost for words". | A dog walker who featured on a video that has been viewed more than three million times on Instagram said its popularity had left him "lost for words". |
| Ivan was walking his two English bulldogs King and Lucy in Willenhall Memorial Park when he was stopped by a photographer. | Ivan was walking his two English bulldogs King and Lucy in Willenhall Memorial Park when he was stopped by a photographer. |
| Mark Butters, from Warwickshire, films strangers' reactions as he asks them if they want a free pet portrait - but often the conversation turns to more than just dogs. | Mark Butters, from Warwickshire, films strangers' reactions as he asks them if they want a free pet portrait - but often the conversation turns to more than just dogs. |
| The video has received hundreds of thousands of likes, including from Khloe Kardashian. | The video has received hundreds of thousands of likes, including from Khloe Kardashian. |
| "It made me laugh to think, 'I don't know the Kardashians but they know me'," Ivan said. | "It made me laugh to think, 'I don't know the Kardashians but they know me'," Ivan said. |
| "I was more surprised everyone understood my Black Country accent. I'm just lost for words to the response to be honest." | "I was more surprised everyone understood my Black Country accent. I'm just lost for words to the response to be honest." |
| Ivan said meeting Mr Butters had "made his day" because he could genuinely see his love for photography and dogs. | Ivan said meeting Mr Butters had "made his day" because he could genuinely see his love for photography and dogs. |
| "He restored my faith in humanity, he gave his time to chat to me," he added. | "He restored my faith in humanity, he gave his time to chat to me," he added. |
| Ivan spoke candidly on the short video about losing his wife and youngest daughter in recent years to cancer, and how he had previously raised over £5,000 for Acorns Children's Hospice by walking part of the Great Wall of China. | Ivan spoke candidly on the short video about losing his wife and youngest daughter in recent years to cancer, and how he had previously raised over £5,000 for Acorns Children's Hospice by walking part of the Great Wall of China. |
| He also joked about living in "the old fashioned realm", so it was one of his daughters who spotted the video on social media. | He also joked about living in "the old fashioned realm", so it was one of his daughters who spotted the video on social media. |
| "When I was told there were people from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and USA who'd watched it and left such nice messages, I must admit, I was shocked but not surprised because King and Lucy are special dogs to me and the photos are beautiful," he said. | "When I was told there were people from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and USA who'd watched it and left such nice messages, I must admit, I was shocked but not surprised because King and Lucy are special dogs to me and the photos are beautiful," he said. |
| Mark Butters said his dog Pan, who is a rescue dog from Istanbul, was his inspiration | Mark Butters said his dog Pan, who is a rescue dog from Istanbul, was his inspiration |
| Photographer Mr Butters said he never expected his videos to go viral, but knew when he spoke to Ivan, "that people would love him". | Photographer Mr Butters said he never expected his videos to go viral, but knew when he spoke to Ivan, "that people would love him". |
| Mr Butters, who works full time, hopes to one day turn his love of photography into a full-time venture. | Mr Butters, who works full time, hopes to one day turn his love of photography into a full-time venture. |
| "I am happiest with a camera in my hand and taking photos of dogs," he said. | "I am happiest with a camera in my hand and taking photos of dogs," he said. |
| He added that he loved seeing people's reactions, so decided to wear a GoPro camera and film it for his social media accounts. | He added that he loved seeing people's reactions, so decided to wear a GoPro camera and film it for his social media accounts. |
| "In day-to-day life I rarely speak to strangers, you never know what is going on in someone's life," he said. | "In day-to-day life I rarely speak to strangers, you never know what is going on in someone's life," he said. |
| He said approaching strangers had become easier and he hoped to continue the videos by going to more parks around the country and meeting new people. | He said approaching strangers had become easier and he hoped to continue the videos by going to more parks around the country and meeting new people. |
| Mr Butters took portraits of King and Lucy in Willenhall Memorial Park | Mr Butters took portraits of King and Lucy in Willenhall Memorial Park |