Most police encounters involve considerably less poetry and far fewer pugs. One Philadelphia man went viral after setting up what he proudly called a “pug petting zoo” outside a Wawa location.
Passersby were paying $10 to pet his dog, Roodabeguh, and receive a custom poem written on the spot. It’s the kind of business model that sounds made up until you see it in action. Then a police officer showed up.
What followed wasn’t exactly a dramatic showdown, but it did raise an important question: can you legally operate a one-pug petting zoo in a convenience store parking lot?
While the words “pug petting zoo” might not be a phrase you read often, it’s not the most unconventional thing TikToker @roodabeguh has done. Another clip of his recently went viral when he filmed that very same pug dining at Hooters for its birthday.
A pug at Hooters is already eyebrow-raising enough. However, the creator asked a server to sing “Happy Birthday” to the pug. It seems this interaction also fell a little flat. The server was unable to sing for the dog, leaving the creator disappointed.
What Happened At This Wawa?
Birthday song rejection aside, this clip also carries disappointment for the creator. It seems that for this night, he chose to set up shop outside a Wawa, which is a chain of convenience stores in the Philadelphia area.
In a comment, the creator notes that this incident occurred in Malvern. The video, which has over 280,000 views, has text overlay that reads: “POV: the cops try to shut down your pug petting zoo, but you have a permit.”
From the outset, the video shows a dark and dreary night, with heavy rain pouring. The creator and his pug are alone, gazing at the rain until…a cop appears.
At first, the officer simply asks the TikToker what he’s doing there. The creator replies, “Pug petting zoo.”
The cop seems baffled for a moment and even more so when he hears about the poems. He gets over it quickly, saying that Wawa doesn’t “want” him there and he can’t be “soliciting.”
The creator explains that he’s doing it for a cause, which is to raise money so the pug can get surgery to help his breathing problems. Furthermore, he even states that he has a permit. This doesn’t seem to phase the cop, who replies that it’s private property.
Do They Leave?
The cop tries to understand the “business” better. He asks if the creator charges for poems. The creator denies it, but once he admits he is “technically” getting money from people, the cop again reiterates that the creator can’t be offering a service on someone else’s property.
The creator immediately pivots, asking the cop if he can write a poem for him. He is kindly rejected, and the creator tries convincing him by saying it will be quick. He is still rejected. As he starts packing up his things, he mentions how Wawa didn’t need to ask a cop to move him; they could have asked him personally. The cop assures him that it was not malicious intent but rather convenience, since they encountered him shopping at the store.
Was He Breaking A Law?
Not exactly. Despite insisting he had a permit, the creator was technically on Wawa’s property. And if Wawa didn’t want him there, the creator could be faced with a trespassing violation, especially if he had refused to leave at the officer’s request. In Pennsylvania, businesses generally have the right to control who conducts commercial activity on their private property.
So while the “pug petting zoo” itself wasn’t necessarily illegal, operating it on private property without the owner’s permission was another matter entirely.
Does He Do This Often?
It seems the creator and his “pug petting zoo” at the Wawa was not an isolated instance. His TikTok page is filled with Roodabeguh receiving pets from people who were willing to pay $10 just to pet the flat-faced dog. The creator even created a petition on Change.org urging people to sign to help pass “Roodabeguh’s Law.”
“I’m asking for support to pass a unique law for Roodabeguh—Roodabeguh will be allowed to set up his Petting Zoo Anywhere in the State of Pennsylvania without a Permit or due threat of being kicked out or told to leave,” the petition reads in part. So far, 609 people have signed the petition.
Viewers Have His Back
“Ur sign should say a donation of $10 is appreciated.” He replies, “No cause then it’s optional.”
“People always says ‘they could just tell me’.. but the police telling u is a part of ‘they telling u.’” The TikToker replies, “Regardless it’s skipping a step.”
Another offered, “Wawa please find something better to complain about.”
While a fourth user dubbed the officer “the fun police.”
The TikToker’s night of poetry with a side of pug pets may have been short-lived, and it seemed many were critical of Wawa’s decision to remove him. As one user put it, “We live in a world where we can’t stumble upon a pug petting zoo grabbing snacks on a rainy night.”
BroBible reached out to @roodabeguh and to Wawa via email.