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Scarlett Johansson Goes on a Blind Date with a 12-Year-Old Pit Bull

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Scarlett Johansson, a devoted animal lover, eagerly took the opportunity to pamper a shelter dog and help her find a forever home. Her blind date was with Ocean, a charming 12-year-old pittie mix rescued from an overcrowded shelter by Muddy Paws Rescue in NYC.

During their date, Ocean enjoyed a spa day complete with a dog-friendly smoothie, a mani-pedi, and plenty of cuddles. Scarlett even brought a bouquet of stuffed red roses, which Ocean adored so much that she eventually tore it apart.

Scarlett shared, “At first, we were both a little shy and nervous, but Ocean warmed up almost immediately, and now we’re just getting to know each other.”

This delightful meeting is part of a new video series where celebrities go on blind dates with rescue dogs to help them find homes. In a previous episode, Antoni Porowski from “Queer Eye” cooked for a pittie named Clementine, who was soon adopted.

Scarlett, who has rescued two dogs herself, Maggie and Pancake, hoped to help Ocean find a loving family. “I think you’re going to find a forever home pretty easily,” she said as Ocean greeted her with kisses and joyful wiggles.

The date took place at the office of Scarlett’s skincare line, The Outset, where Ocean tried out some hydrating dog-friendly products. Scarlett remarked, “Everybody at The Outset office is really excited to meet a star.”

Through this heartwarming initiative, Scarlett and Ocean showcased the strong bond that can form between humans and rescue dogs, emphasizing the importance of adoption.

NEXT: Combat Loneliness: Invest in Experiences Over Possessions

A new study suggests that materialism might be exacerbating America’s loneliness and isolation epidemic. Research indicates that people who invest in experiences rather than possessions feel a stronger social connection. Psychological experiments have shown that shared experiences, like attending a concert or a sports event, foster a greater sense of kinship compared to owning similar material items, such as shoes. Researcher Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing and psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, noted, “You feel a significantly stronger sense of connectedness when you find out that you just saw the same band in concert than when you learn you have the same shoes as someone else.” To explore how spending habits influence social belonging, Kumar and his team conducted seven experiments with over 1,400 participants. The results, published in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, reveal that experiences are more integral to personal identity than material goods. “All of our buying habits are, to some extent, part of who we are, and they can connect us to other people,” Kumar stated in a university news release. “But that’s much more likely to be true of experiences we buy than material items we buy.” Experiences are also less likely to incite envy. Two people sharing an experience, even if one had a superior version, will feel a stronger connection compared to those owning similar items. For instance, someone in the nosebleed section at a baseball game will feel more connected to a person in a private box at the same game than if they noticed they were wearing the same shoes. Shared events enhance feelings of connectedness among attendees and people in general. Kumar suggests that companies should highlight the experiences associated with their products to boost social connection and customer satisfaction. “That can be important for things like customer retention and brand loyalty,” he said. These insights underline the importance of spending on experiences to foster social bonds and enhance well-being.

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