Cleveland’s Golden Boy
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
A look inside the life of Cleveland’s beloved golden retriever as he gives his perspective of Cleveland through a dog’s eyes.
Written by Aubrey Evans
Slider cheers on the Guardians. Moondog dunks on the basketball court. Chomps pumps up the Dawg Pound. Cleveland is home to several well-known sports mascots. But in the heart of downtown Cleveland, there resides a loyal golden retriever who has slowly become the city’s hidden mascot.
Ike, a golden retriever, was adopted at just eight weeks old by Clevelander Mike Dalessandro as a birthday gift to himself in January of 2020, just before COVID hit. With the world in shutdown and a puppy yearning to have some fun, Mike created Instagram and TikTok accounts to share Ike with the world.
Since then, Ike has become a Cleveland star, gaining 38.4k followers on Instagram and 67.4k followers on TikTok. His account, @ike_thegolden, shows what it’s like being a golden retriever in Cleveland.
Ike sat down (on the floor, obviously, not a chair) and spoke with the Vindicator about what it’s like to be a small dog in a big city – despite having nearly 40,000 Instagram followers.
He talked about his daily routine, his favorite places to go and what it’s like living in Cleveland. Here are edited excerpts from the conversation.
Q: When did you come into Mike’s life?
A: I was a small pup, only about 8 weeks old when Mike came to get me from my birthplace in Michigan. Since then, I call Mike “Dad” since he spoils me like a child. Dad tells me I was his birthday gift that year, and I have to say what can be a better gift than a fluffy golden retriever like me!
Q: What is the story behind your name?
A: Mike named me Ike so our names could match the candy “Mike and Ike.” I’ve never tried the candy but it looks super tasty.
Q: How would you describe your dad?
A: My dad is the best. He loves to cuddle with me and take me on adventures around the city. He says he gives me plenty of treats, but I think he could always give me more.
Q: What does your day-to-day life look like?
A: If my dad doesn’t wake me up, I will sleep until noon if I can. Dad spoils me and lets me sleep in his comfy bed even though I take up his space. After I wake up, Dad asks me if I want to go for a W-A-L-K. He thinks I don’t know what that means, just because he spells out the word.
Q: What is your favorite part of your day?
A: I love going for walks. Sometimes I feel like I’m a celebrity because so many strangers come up to me and give me treats.
Q: Where are your favorite places to go around Cleveland?
A: I like going anywhere I get treats. I get bacon at Addy’s Diner, inside the historic 5th Street Arcades on Euclid Avenue, so I love going there. I even pop into Bett’s, in the Kimpton Schofield Hotel on East Ninth Street, right near my house. I’m a fan favorite there. They even named a Manhattan drink after me called “Ike’s It’s Peach Man.”
Ike poses at Bett’s with his signature drink, “Ike It’s Peach Man.” to show his followers this Ike-onic pairing.
Q: Does Betts ever give you any food?
A: I sit there like a good boy and show people how cute I am, so they feed me, but Dad always says no.
Q: What do you think about living in Cleveland?
A: I love it. Wherever I go, there are so many people that I don’t even know who stop and pet me. It makes me feel like a celebrity.
Q: What is your favorite Cleveland team?
A: I love going to the Browns games. All of the fans are so much fun, and they give me lots of treats and attention. I even have a jersey I wear for good luck.
Q: What is it like being a Browns fan?
A: Painful, but I’m a golden retriever, so loyalty is kind of my thing.
