Meet Tinkerbelle: Rockville Centre's Celebrity Pooch

Sometimes it feels like being a dog owner is a full-time job. That’s doubly true when your dog also happens to be a celebrity.

It’s the life that Sam Carrell, a Rockville Centre resident, and her dog, Tinkerbelle, lead every day. When Carrell isn’t teaching dance at her mother’s studio, also in Rockville Centre, she’s managing Tinkerbelle’s Snapchat, Instagram and other social media accounts, driving around the Tri-State area so Tinkerbelle can make appearances and flying around the country to get Tinkerbelle to photo shoots and commercial filmings.

“It takes a team,” Carrell said. “We have Team Tinkerbelle. One of my friends helps with her social media posts. My sister comes along sometimes. Sometimes Tinkerbelle spends the days at Leggz, [the dance studio]. It’s a lot of work.”

It’s work that Carrell loves, but not that she ever expected.

Carrell and Tinkerbelle found each other about four years ago. Carrell’s friend runs a shelter in Huntington, and while the two were on the phone one day, she mentioned a little puppy who was still looking for a home.

The dog was shy. She wouldn’t eat or approach people. Carrell thought she’d come by and look around. The dog came right up to her, though, which it hadn’t done for anyone else. “She picked me,” Carrell said.

Tinkerbelle is the first pet that Carrell had ever owned. Even after adopting her, being an animal celebrity was never part of the plan. But Carrell worked in New York City and would bring Tinkerbelle with her sometimes. People loved to stop them on the street and pet the five pound Papillon/Maltese mix.

“One of the people was an animal agent, and asked if they could work with her,” Carrell recounted. “She started book Ralph Lauren and huge jobs, and she became the face of his campaigns.”

Tinkerbelle’s first job was a shoot for Ralph Lauren three years ago. David Lauren, the designer’s son, was on set that day and loved Tinkerbelle. He put the dog into every shot.

Since then, Tinkerbelle has gone on to do other shoots and commercials. She makes appearances at parties and store openings. She recently landed a contract for Purina dog food and is going to be starting a campaign for Swiffer at the end of the month. Earlier this week she made an appearance at a new pet spa that opened in Oceanside, and Carrell is taking her to Connecticut this weekend for another appearance.

She’s been invited to places and parties that most people don’t get invited to. She has more than 80,000 followers on Instagram and nearly 12,000 on Facebook. She even got tickets to "Hamilton."

“She’s just the right pup,” said Carrell.

You can follow Tinkerbelle on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. Or visit her website for more information.