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NFL Players Help Dogs in Need

By: Author Grace Sydney

Are you a Fido-loving football fan? Join the huddle of animal lovers and give a big cheer for gridiron greats who do good deeds for dogs in need! Following are just a few of the many NFL players who have helped paws causes:

Logan Ryan

Regardless of the outcome when the New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons during the 2017 NFL championship game, dog devotees will be cheering for Patriots’ cornerback Logan Ryan. A doting Dad to pooches Nala and Leo, on the 26th of each month the sports hero in the number 26 jersey takes to his Instagram account to shine a spotlight on an adoptable Pit Bull who is hoping to be a forever pet parent’s “draft pick”. In December he struck a pose with Dallas, a toy-loving three-year-old pooch from the all volunteer-based non-profit The Pittie Stop Rescue.

Courtney Upshaw

Courtney Upshaw of the Atlanta Falcons is just one of the many animal-loving athletes who has teamed up with Show Your Soft Side. Launched in 2011, the popular public service campaign reaches out to misguided adolescents who look upon the mistreatment of animals as a sign of manliness in order to teach them that tenderness toward our four-legged friends is the true measure of a man.

Photo Credit: Leo Howard Lubow

Ezekiel Elliott

Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott helped to make great strides in the creation of a better tomorrow for our tail-wagging chums in the Lone Star State when he stepped out on the playing field in one of a kind kicks that showed his support for the SPCA of Texas. One of 500 football players throughout the league who took part in the “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign, the proud pet parent to a Rottweiler named Ace chose to raise funds for the paws cause while raising awareness of the need to end animal cruelty.

The sports star in the number 21 jersey also holds the number one spot in the hearts of his doggedly devoted fans for sponsoring the SPCA of Texas “Run to the Shelter” pet adoption day, when 48 companion animals were chosen to be on the home team of a forever family!

Gerald McCoy

Defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gerald McCoy tackled the topic of less adoptable animals as he starred with adorable adult dogs in a PSA for the Humane Society Tampa Bay:

Eric Decker

Scoring a touchdown with his Fido-loving fans, New York Jets wide receiver Eric Deckerand his wife, country music star Jessie James, launched Deckers Dogs in 2013. A real game changer for both shelter pets and vets, Deckers Dogs provides support for Freedom Service Dogs of America by funding the rescue, care and custom training of canines saved from the shelter system as they learn the vital skills necessary to become service dogs for those who have served our country.

Phil Taylor

A nose tackle for the Denver Broncos, Phil Taylor teamed up with some wet noses at the Denver Animal Shelter for a series of PSAs which urges potential pet parents to get in the game and choose the option of shelter adoption.

K.J. Wright and Jordan Babineaux

Tackling one of the toughest topics in the world of animal welfare, Seattle Seahawks linebacker K.J. Wright, along with former Seahawk Jordan Babineaux, MMA icon Matt Hume and Washington’s Most Wanted host David Rose, filmed a PSA which helped to shine a light on dog fighting. The sports stars’ co-star is Meadow, a courageous canine saved by Pasado’s Safe Haven who lived through the nightmare the athletes speak of in the video.

Joe Flacco

An NFL champ who is also a champion for the underdog, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has helped promote the option of pet adoption as a spokesperson for the Baltimore Humane Society.

Athletes for Animals Ambassadors

Stars from a wide variety of sports have teamed up to help paws causes as Athletes for Animals ambassadors. Launched in 2013 by David Backes (captain of the St. Louis Blues, who helped dogs in need at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi), the non-profit organization’s lineup of animal-loving luminaries includes Tim Barnes of the L.A. Rams, Tennessee Titans long snapper Beau Brinkley, James Laurinaitis of the New Orleans Saints and offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, Jake Long. Created to offer financial assistance to rescue organizations, promote the option of pet adoption and educate the public about proper pet parenting, Athletes for Animals has provided aid to many animal welfare organizations since its start, and in early 2017 was the financial agent for the annual New Year for the Strays fundraiser, which benefited 15 animal welfare organizations in the St. Louis area.

Golden Tate

As fostering is a golden opportunity to help a shelter or rescue organization , Golden Tate of the Detroit Lions and fiancee Elise Pollard have opened their heart and home several times to adorable adoptables from the Michigan Humane Society, like little Lucy, who now gets to play ball at the home of her very own forever pet parent!

LaDainian Tomlinson

Pooches feel like MVPs (Very Important Pups) at Snug Pet Resort, which opened in 2008 with help from sports star LaDainian Tomlinson and his wife, LaTorsha. The serene San Diego sanctuary for Spots served as a backdrop for the former running back for the San Diego Chargers when he filmed a PSA for the American Heartworm Society.

Chris Culliver

He’s been a member of the defensive backfield for the San Francisco 49ers, the Washington Redskins and the Miami Dolphins, and off the playing field Chris Culliver defends both people and pets in need through The Chris Culliver Foundation, which was established in 2012.


Photo Credit: PR Web/Critter Lovers at Work (CLAW)

Charlie Batch

Each year former quarterback Charlie Batch, who helped to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to two NFL championships, takes steps to create a better tomorrow for dogs and cats in need as he leads an annual amble at The Waterfront in Homestead, Pennsylvania. Acting as Grand Marshals for the Panera Pup Walk, Batch and his wife Latasha raise funds for the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society.

Marshall Faulk

Scoring a touchdown with all who love our tail-wagging chums, NFL Hall of Fame member Marshall Faulk teamed up with American Dog Rescue and The Arthur E. Benjamin Foundation when the city of Joplin, Missouri was blindsided by a tornado in 2011. Helping companion animals who felt the effects of the natural disaster, the campaign he promoted garnered funds for The Humane Society of Missouri to both replenish the non-profit’s Disaster Response Team’s finances and to continue providing medical care of Joplin’s animals in need.

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