Every morning, a chubby cat named Oreo is always the first to visit a local donut shop, Chickenbutt Donuts, in Chapin, South Carolina, and stands in line ahead of the customers, attracting a lot of attention. Oreo has become a “regular” at the donut shop.
The donut shop is operated by a couple, Tre and Sue Dabney. Mr. Dabney, 53, is a veteran from South Carolina who served in the military for four years. Mrs. Dabney, 51, hails from Pennsylvania and holds a photography degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. The Dabneys have two children, Jack and Max, and the name of their donut shop comes from a joke between these two kids.
About two or three years ago, the Dabneys’ business neighbors, Ed Bundrick and Dianne Bundrick, took in Oreo.
Mr. Dabney told Epoch Times, “Everyone in this area knows Oreo, and all the local businesses take good care of it.”
One early morning on December 28, 2023, as Mr. Dabney was getting ready to open the shop and preparing the day’s donuts, he noticed a new visitor.
Mr. Dabney revealed, “Oreo was standing right in front of the shop’s door, looking quite comical, patiently waiting. The first thing I did was take a picture of it. I wanted to show it to my wife when she came to work, to prove the scene at the time.”
An hour later, seeing Oreo still patiently waiting, Mr. Dabney decided to post Oreo’s picture on social media. Soon after the upload, a new star was born. Oreo became famous on social media, gaining fans as far as Japan and Brazil.
However, what the Dabneys didn’t know was that Oreo’s visits would soon become a routine affair.
Now, several months have passed, and Oreo hasn’t missed a single morning at the donut shop. It always stands at the front of the line, securing a spot at the door.
Mr. Dabney said, “Customers love it; they come to see it every day. It’s a cat, so it comes and goes as it pleases, but it never misses the morning greeting.”
A video of Oreo eagerly trying a bite of a donut to see if it likes the taste went viral online. It turns out, Oreo enjoys eating, but the Dabneys are very mindful of its diet, only giving it cat-appropriate food, occasionally indulging it with a bit of donut.
Meanwhile, the Chapin community has shown love to Oreo by donating food, snacks, toys, and even clothes.
Mr. Dabney said, “We feed Oreo with the food donated by the community.”
How does Oreo react to the free food? It’s with gratitude and affection. Every breakfast time, it rubs around and purrs, although Mr. Dabney noticed recently that its appreciation has turned into a bit of stubbornness.
Oreo has found a home in a small area behind the donut shop, where it often stays or wanders into the woods.
Although it’s uncertain how long Oreo’s habit of being the first in line at the donut shop every morning will continue, the Dabneys are enjoying the experience.
Mr. Dabney stated, “We are fortunate to have Oreo with us!”
(Dabney Family provided)