Today we’d like to introduce you to Vivian Harris.
Hi Vivian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our social media journey began in 2014 when Instagram was popular with photo sharing of the family, trips, and even pets. By then, Noah, our first dog, was already 3 years old, and I began sharing him on my personal Instagram account. It was when my sister suggested I create his page to share pictures of him better. So I did.
I must tell you how Noah came to us in the first place. In 2011, my husband and his Marine buddy took a trip to the Florida panhandle. My husband went with his friend to accompany him because his friend wanted to see a dog he saw online. The friend picked a puppy from a litter and turned around to head back to Jacksonville. Before walking away, my husband noticed one puppy was left, and everyone who walked by didn’t want to take him. My husband asked the guy overseeing the litter why wasn’t the last puppy being picked. The man told my husband that he was the runt of the litter and that he was not profitable, so he was going to discard him (throw him in the trash or end his life). My husband felt bad for the puppy and called me to tell me he was bringing a dog home. When my husband and his friend got home, my husband told me why he had brought the puppy. We weren’t planning on having dogs because my husband was still active in the Marine Corps. We were still moving around and determining if any city approved all dog breeds. The last thing on our minds was to get a dog because we didn’t feel we could handle that responsibility, especially with my husband still being on active duty and not scheduled to retire for another 7 years. So, I was shocked that my husband would bring a dog to our house.
Noah’s breed is American Bully. However, many classify him as a “pitbull” because it’s used to identify block-headed dogs with stout bodies. Pitbull is shortened from the official breed American Pit Bull Terrier. Many dog breeds, such as cane corso, bulldogs, and more, are categorized as pitbulls due to mislabeling and breed discrimination. Unfortunately, many dogs like Noah are euthanized solely for their looks. Many headlines blame “pitbulls” on bites even though the dog may be a completely different breed but perpetuates the stereotype and mislabeling of innocent dogs. People who have dogs like Noah are often criticized for having such a “dangerous” and “turn on you one-day” dog. There are many organizations and groups of people whose sole purpose is to kidnap “pitbulls” and euthanize them. People go out of their way to poison these dogs for the pure hate of the breed. Some countries have banned “pitbulls” and other breeds that look like them. Many cities, counties, and townships in the U.S. have the same ban and or restrictions. They have Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) which states what kinds of dogs aren’t allowed in their city limits. However, this antiquated law has yet to prove any neighborhood is safer or prevented or lessened bites because, as I mentioned earlier, mislabeling of breeds is rampant. It can always narrow it down to a certain breed.
I understand how terrifying it must sound when we read headlines that say, “child mauled to death by pitbull.” But I also understand that the dog was probably mislabeled and that its owner is irresponsible because they failed to train the dog properly. I understand people have been victims of bites or attacks from what may appear to be a “pitbull,” but it was another breed. I wasn’t aware of this information until Noah came to us and began to see people’s reactions, even in my own family.
This is why I began my social media path, starting with Noah. My mission became to show how gentle, well-behaved, and smart Noah could be. Instead of posting only cute pictures of Noah, I also began advocating for him on the streets. Anywhere he came with us, I ensured he was well-behaved, spoke on his behalf when strangers made rude comments about his breed, and even stood up to my family members when they told us they didn’t want to visit anymore because of Noah. I dressed Noah in dog pajamas because it allowed people to see his cuteness, not his breed. I showed pictures and videos of Noah with children to show that he is gentle and can behave. I showed how Noah was trained to walk on a leash and respect boundaries. I advocated for him and still do.
In 2017, we thought Noah would enjoy a companion or little brother. We found a family who wanted to re-home their five-month-old American Bully. The family said the dog was knocking over their toddlers and was too energetic for their lifestyle. We decided he’d be a perfect match for Noah, who was 6 years old. We renamed the puppy from Thor to Lincoln. When it was time for Lincoln to meet Noah, Noah took a sniff and walked away. It wasn’t love at first sight, but they’ve gotten along well through the years. We like to call their relationship more like roommates than besties.
Bringing Lincoln into the picture added a dynamic we never expected. Noah is sweet and quiet, and Lincoln is energetic and always on the go; granted, there is a major age difference, but it comes down to their personalities. And so, naturally, we began to add Lincoln to our content, and it’s been a wild ride since. Noah is shown as the senior dog, and Lincoln is the young dog. Both have become Ambassadors for the breed, and we hope to continue changing people’s hearts and minds worldwide through their social media channels.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It could have been a smoother road entering the social media realm with a breed that is looked upon with hate. You don’t realize how much hate exists in the world until it is demonstrated against you. One of the ways people demonstrate their hate towards the breed is by leaving mean and nasty comments. In the beginning, we took it very personally because they weren’t true and felt like they were targeting dogs that couldn’t defend themselves. That’s when we began to be Noah and Lincoln’s voices; we spoke for them via photos and videos. We understand we’re never going to change all the minds, but as long as we can change one, it all takes. We knew we were on the right path when other social media outlets began to repost our videos, such as LadBible, the dodo, and even TV personalities like RightThisMinute. This brought us so much joy because more and more people can see how this breed can flourish. We accepted that Noah and Lincoln have become, in their way, a brand of Noah & Lincoln. With more homes having pets, more brands began to recognize a larger audience was emerging, pet parents. Pet Parents are the focus of many pet companies and have sought out dog accounts to help promote their products. Noah and Lincoln have worked with top brands and even appeared alongside movie production promotions. Breed discrimination has not ended for Noah and Lincoln. But the fact that they and other bully breeds can be recognized alongside a Golden Retriever or Corgi means more and more people recognize bully breeds are here to stay and loved by more people than hated.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been in the federal government for 15 years. I started with the Department of Commerce, transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and currently working at the Department of Labor. My background is in government contracting, budgeting, procurement, and acquisitions. I am proud of two graduate degrees and am a Marine Corps veteran. I joined the Marine Corps right out of high school and was in for 8 years. Being in the Marine Corps has opened many opportunities, and I am eternally grateful. I believe having military experience sets me apart from most of my peers because of the leadership, discipline, and commitment I learned along the way. The skills, knowledge, and abilities I apply daily in and out of the work setting have allowed me to have a successful career.
What was you like growing up?
I grew up in Miami, Florida, and I loved it because it allowed me to explore so many different scenes. Being Hispanic, I was exposed to different cultural backgrounds within the Latino groups that I don’t believe I would have anywhere else. Growing up, I enjoyed eating various foods in Miami and hanging out with our large extended family and friends. Growing up, I always knew I wanted to work for the government. I told my mother when I was in middle school that one day, I would work for the Pentagon. I did. I worked at the Pentagon in the earlier years of my career. I also knew I wanted to join the military at some point, but I wasn’t entirely sure which branch. I started with the Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in high school and then decided I would join the Marine Corps at the end of my senior year. I was also involved in sports like volleyball but needed more to pursue it after high school.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.noahandlincoln.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/noah_and_lincoln
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/noahandlincoln
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@noahandlincoln
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@noah_and_lincoln?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
