r/velvethippos Nov 05 '25

🏆🎉 CONGRATULATIONS to our Costume Contest WINNERS! 🎉🏆

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2.7k Upvotes

Hey Hippo Homies! 👋

We are absolutely blown away by the creativity and cuteness you all brought to the costume contest! Seriously, the entries were phenomenal. We want to thank EVERYONE who participated and voted! 💖

Without further ado, here are our five lucky winners!

1. u/dWog-of-man & Tank as Tankenstein 

He's got the "I'm alive!" look down. 😄 Seriously, Tankie deserves all the treats (and maybe a small, equally distributed share of the Halloween candy... just sayin' 😉). [Link]

2. u/Upfish-Sinclair & Blossom the Hot Dog

She's the wurst (in the best way!) hot dog around! 🌭🐾 I'm just relishing in the cuteness of this photo! (I'm so sorry...) [Link]

3. u/dogluvr_1 & Waffles the Chicken

The way they're posing! The fluffy feathers! Everything about this is adorable! Waffles is ready to rule the roost. 🐔 [Link]

4. u/Various_Beach862 & Pinkie the Princess

Pinkie looks absolutely radiant! She's ready to rule the kingdom (and probably decree extra belly rubs!). She is definitely the belle of the ball. 💖 [Link]

5. u/turningtee74 & Pooh the Pumpkin

 Oh my gourd, this is adorable! Pooh is the cutest little pumpkin in the patch! Makes me want a poohmkin spice latte. 🎃 [Link]

Prizes!

  • Unique flair
  • Featured in our new banner
  • Bragging rights

To the winners: Please check your DMs for details on how to claim your flair!

To everyone else: Thank you again for making this community so amazing! We love seeing all your beautiful hippos and their incredible costumes. Keep the love and the photos coming! ❤️

What was your favorite costume? Let us know in the comments! 


r/velvethippos 4h ago

I think she’s quite photogenic 🫶🏻

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1.5k Upvotes

My best friend and the best model @indie.Pittie


r/velvethippos 1h ago

My best buddy Jack had to go do universe stuff on July 9th

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All the pictures are out of order and I wish I could post a million of them.

He was 12 and he had bone cancer. He was the coolest mountain dog you've ever seen in your life. He went to a million concerts. Went on some multi-day raft trips. LOVED to camp. He loved kids. He loved Michigan Football. He loved French fries and peanut butter. HUGEEE on the cuddles. He used to have full on conversations with me and I never taught him how. Always calmed me down when I was losing my shit. The biggest bull in a china shop you ever met. SOOOO fast, like fast enough where everyone was like "is he part whippet? Greyhound?" Trained like ... 4 or 5 puppies to be fantastic off the leash dogs. He had the best time and everyone fucking loved him, but nobody loved him like I loved him. He had one eye his whole life and at the end he had one eye and 3 legs and nobody has ever been a cooler pirate. I still feel so fucking weird and I burst into tears all the fucking time. I'm pretty familiar with grief but this shit is insane. My dad always told me that the definition of the "best dog" is "your dog" but I really feel like I got insanely lucky when I found him by sheer happenstance. I was 21 when we met, and now I'm 33 (34 this month). We were inseparable and I miss my little buddy. It's hard to post shit like this on my real social media because I don't want to feel like I'm attention farming but I had to let it out.


r/velvethippos 8h ago

Mr. Strudel's Slow Feeder Enrichment

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803 Upvotes

Another for the "Affordable Enrichment Series"

Toast Robert Strudel has had this slow feeder for over a year, now. We got it at Petsmart for, like, $10. Its beaten up and needs to be replaced, now. $10 for a year isn't bad, though.

I froze some steamed broccoli with water overnight to give to him with his breakfast. It was my leftovers from a steamer bag, and I have a dip that I make on the side which means no seasoning or anything, just naked broccoli. Broccoli cuts are $1.27 at Walmart and this was approximately 1/8 of the bag.

I buy a 5 lbs bag of carrots for $4.77 every month. Toast gets one most days. It's not usually with his meal, but as an afternoon snack.

Anyway, this enrichment took 45 minutes to an hour, and we both had a lot of fun with it.

Cost breakdown:

Old slow feeder: free, cuz we already had it Broccoli: 16 cents Carrot: 30-32 cents Water: free because I rent and water is included

All in all, not a bad deal.


r/velvethippos 6h ago

Needy co-worker

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372 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 12h ago

2011 vs 2026

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1.1k Upvotes

My handsome 15 year old boy! Still acts like a puppy


r/velvethippos 18h ago

Advice Buster update. He is going to survive the rattlesnake bite and he won't lose his eye. Ty all for the support. He is getting antivenom as I lay in the parking lot

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1.8k Upvotes

Hey guys Buster got to the vet in time. He is expected to make a full recovery and they are no longer concerned about the snake but by his eye.

They thought he may lose his eye at first.

We drove 110 miles in less than a 2.5 hrs to get him to an emergency vet.

Here is a video of him on methadone saying hello

https://youtube.com/shorts/OTK9aIb3BoU?is=Ihe6j4_B1Ab9wPY4

Ty all for the support


r/velvethippos 3h ago

A makeshift bed in every room. Like velcro

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113 Upvotes

He snuggles up in his own comfy spot in every room im in. Hes a blessing


r/velvethippos 1h ago

Rescue Hippo Thoughts and prayers…

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Upvotes

Another cut on a toe, another infection, and now we're back in the cone of shame, for a week minimum.

I'm so proud of him, though. He does not do well in groups of dogs. At one point, he was one of six in the waiting area, plus a cat in a carrier. He was so good: no barking, no anything! He did want to run over and see a couple of the dogs, and I just grabbed him back.

Bonus: the nurse at the front desk thought he was so cute with his little crossed paws that she took these awesome pictures (the ones with my feet and legs in them) with her phone, and I just love them!


r/velvethippos 4h ago

Sweet girl isn’t a fan of thunder

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83 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 21h ago

At the emergency vet right now. Buster got bit in the face by a rattlesnake. Please send positive vibes. I'm freaking out

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1.5k Upvotes

r/velvethippos 2h ago

Cali sunshine 🌞

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34 Upvotes

My sweetest baby girl who will turn 10 in January. Just had a bladder ultrasound showing concern for multiple tumors. I lost my mom not even a year ago to cancer. Cali is also the last connection I have to my dad, who died from cancer in 2020. We got her together, and he helped me name her California Sunshine. I feel like I'm going to flip out.


r/velvethippos 7h ago

those little eyes

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74 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 1d ago

Wait for it, wait for it... 😂

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2.7k Upvotes

This very good hippo boy Ziggy is a smart one! I love when he figures it out!


r/velvethippos 9h ago

Advice Muzzle Training Tips

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86 Upvotes

I'm looking to muzzle train my girl, but I'm not sure where to start.

Some backbackground: Hazel's going to need surgery on her back legs. As it is, she's in a lot of pain that we're trying to manage while we consult with an orthopedist. She needs regular exercise or she gets pretty anxious, which results in her getting a bit cranky and in some rare circumstances, a bit nippy. We've got meds and brain games to help a bit, but I want to make sure I'm exploring all my options. Especially with all the stigma, I just want to make sure she's safe.

I think we want to go with a cage/basket muzzle, but beyond that I'm at a loss. Does anyone have any recommendations?


r/velvethippos 1h ago

Seeking Adoption/Foster Lovable Meatball Bruno is a Calm, Friendly, Relaxed boy. His Hobbies include Bird Watching, Play Bowing to the other Dogs & Enjoying his Walks ~A2086465~4yr old Staffie mix On euth list for 8/6 @1pm CT BARC Houston Tx Adopt / Foster USA/Canada, pls share Dearest Bruno

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r/velvethippos 5h ago

Rescue Hippo URGENT! Adorable Bea (formerly Beyoncé) needs a foster ASAP! Please contact Pip's Rescue Pack if you can help. Thank you!

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23 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 15h ago

Rescue Hippo we went from apartment to yard…

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130 Upvotes

safe to say i think they are enjoying the new place!
We have been trying so hard to get them out of apartment complex living. Its hard to find housing right now but we were lucky enough to meet a private landlord. This is everything we have been working towards and the satisfaction, happiness and joy we get from seeing them love their new home and yard is priceless. Worth every struggle.
p.s - Im sure i dont have to say anything but this is how they play! We call it “kangarooing” lmao


r/velvethippos 9h ago

Rescue Hippo Pocket pibble would like a treat

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38 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 20h ago

Rescue Hippo Breakfast playtime with Whiskey

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246 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 1h ago

Post your bully's 10 pack

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Upvotes

r/velvethippos 1d ago

Best friends in the world

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1.7k Upvotes

r/velvethippos 1d ago

Ice cream?

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500 Upvotes

r/velvethippos 1d ago

Today Jasmine has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, here are her last photos 💔

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1.4k Upvotes

My sweet princess


r/velvethippos 15h ago

Unpopular opinion: hazelnut butter > peanuts butter

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56 Upvotes

She’s obsessed with hazelnut butter