Blog

September has arrived, and if you’re like 64% of Americans (and probably way more than that  in Texas!) this is the month you’ve been waiting for all year: the start of football season.

Besides the incredible athleticism and the fun (and, admittedly, stress) of competition, part of the irresistible draw of football is the players themselves and all the associated drama and legal mishaps. Although it can be easy and, let’s face it, a little bit fun to gossip and even judge them from time to time, your friends at Ten West have a different take on the subject.

As you prepare to hunker down with friends and family, surrounded by delicious food and cold beverages, we invite you to turn your thoughts away from the various wrongdoings of professional athletes and pay homage instead to the ones who go above and beyond to make the world a better place.

Football and pet charities may not seem like they go hand-in-hand, but it’s becoming increasingly common for players to take a special interest in needy pets, and to use their considerable influence to help the cause.

The Ryans Make A Difference

When Tennessee Titans cornerback Logan Ryan wed his longtime girlfriend on the island of St. Lucia, supporting a local animal charity probably wasn’t the first thing on his mind. However, during a wedding photo shoot the couple, both animal lovers, met and befriended a stray dog. This meeting, plus the sight of the hundreds of other strays in the city, prompted the couple to ask for monetary donations to the local animal rescue organization instead of material wedding gifts.

This act of generosity wasn’t the first for the couple, however. Together they started a social media campaign in 2016 called “Ryan’s Monthly Rescue”, which features a monthly photo of Ryan with different rescue dogs in an effort to find them homes and increase awareness.

Torrey Smith

Outspoken animal lover and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith, along with his wife Chanel, made a big impact in the lives of the animals at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS) earlier this year when they prepaid the adoption fees of all 46 of the animals at the shelter. As of May 2017, 31 of the animals had already found safe and loving homes.

Football and Pet Charities: A Winning Combination

• Ronnie Stanley (Baltimore Ravens) – documented his adoption of an older and “not so adoptable” dog named Lola from BARCS.
• Glenn Dorsey (Kansas City Chiefs), Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears), and Aaron Currey (Oakland Raiders) – posed for an ad campaign urging pet owners to make their dogs “part of the family” by bringing them indoors to live rather than leaving them outside.
• Sedrick Ellis (New Orleans Saints) – posed for an ad reminding pet owners to plan ahead for their pets in the event of a natural disaster or emergency
• Tyler Matakevich (Pittsburgh Steelers) – publicly adopted a rescue puppy following his participation in an anti-cruelty ad campaign

So, as we prepare to hunker down with friends and family, surrounded by delicious food and cold beverages, your friends at Ten West Bird and Animal Hospital are delighted to pay special attention to the players who go above and beyond to make the world a better place.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet!