DETROIT (WWJ) — You've surely heard of the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit's iconic bridge connecting the city to Canada.
But have you heard of the Detroit Ambassadog?
Chances are, if you were tailgating at a Detroit Lions game last fall you saw him walking around, sporting a lion's mane and vest emblazoned with his name.
The 10-year-old pit bull named Bobby became known as Detroit Ambassadog last year when he and his owner, Tom McDevitt, moved to Downtown Detroit.
McDevitt says he has a passion for the city, as well as pit bulls and he wanted to "marry those two causes together."
"Because both the city of Detroit — other than this weekend — I think it gets a pretty bad rap in the media. And pit bulls do too. So they kinda have, like, the same problem," McDevitt said Thursday afternoon as he and his dog wandered around the NFL Draft Experience at Hart Plaza.
"He's a dog of the people," McDevitt said as adoring fans greeted Bobby.
Detroit Ambassadog began gaining traction on Instagram and TikTok last fall as the Lions marched to a 14-win season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game -- which they made a road trip to go see, all the way to California.
Any time McDevitt posts a video of Bobby — whether he's walking around with a shredded LA Rams football in his mane, vest and snow boots or cruising the streets with his ski goggles — the comments section is inundated with loving fans.
McDevitt says he eventually wants to begin selling merchandise and use the money to donate to pit bull rescues.
Chances are if you're out and about this weekend around the NFL Draft, you'll see McDevitt and Bobby, who are both more than happy to say hi and have a chat. Just don't be surprised if Bobby is searching for a little something more than pets.
"He mostly just wonders where the treats are at," McDevitt said.
