When Chase Utley isn't knocking balls out of the park, he's trying to knock out animal overpopulation. The MLB all-star posed for a new "Adopt, Don't Buy" ad with his rescued dog Jack, who was born in an animal shelter to canine parents confiscated from a dogfighting ring. Chase unveiled the ad today at the Seger Dog Park in Philadelphia to a crowd of two-legged and four-legged fans.
 

 
The homeless-animal crisis is a cause very close to Chase and his wife, Jennifer's hearts. They are both active with the Pennsylvania SPCA, and they started an annual event to raise money and awareness called Utley All-Star Animals. Check out our feature on Chase to watch an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of him talking about his love for animals, and then enter to win an autographed Philadelphia Phillies jersey! And, of course, join Chase in hitting a homerun for the 4 to 6 million animals who face euthanasia every year by always adopting, never buying.

 
Written by Michelle Sherrow

I'd love to announce this as an official PETA victory, but I have a sneaking suspicion that the MLB's decision to get rid of all their wool caps in favor of a polyester blend has more to do with the suffering of sweaty baseball players in the heat than with the suffering of merino sheep in the wool industry.

Whatever their motives, though, this is a big deal for sheep like those in Australia who are horribly mutilated at the beginning of their lives and crammed onto ships to be slaughtered in countries with no animal welfare standards at the end. Whether the major league baseball players know it or not, they're doing the right thing by ditching the wool in favor of a humane alternative. So I, for one, applaud them. Except the Yankees. (Like most Orioles fans, I still haven't forgotten 1996.)

Anyway, there you have it—some great news for animals from the MLB. And now, for those of you who'd like a little more info about the issue, here's an important educational video that my friends Joel, Marta, and I made a little while ago. But please do remember, before you watch it, that you will never get those 21 seconds of your life back.