Family Goals: Soccer Stars Christen Press and Tobin Heath Team Up With Pup Bobbi to Promote Adoption
GOOOAAAALLL! They may be forwards on the field, but Angel City player Christen Press and former women’s soccer Player of the Year Tobin Heath are defenders of animals. In a striking new PETA campaign, the soccer stars teamed up with their dog Bobbi to encourage everyone to find their perfect match by always adopting animals from shelters and never buying them from pet shops or breeders.
The pro players kicked off the campaign with a sweet video featuring their beloved Bobbi, who went from being their foster friend to a lifelong keeper.
“She has changed my life. She has given me so much more than we could have ever imagined. It’s really cool to have an extra heartbeat in the house,” Heath said.
The two raise a toast to Bobbi, sharing how the perky pup brought joy and love to their lives.
“Being an athlete is all about discipline and sacrifice but we’re transitioning into a next phase of life now and thanks to Bob, there’s nurturing, love and care here. Be an MVP, adopt, don’t shop,” Press said.
Why Buying From Breeders Is Foul
With millions of homeless dogs and cats in the U.S. alone, animal shelters across the country are constantly overflowing with unwanted animals. Some shelters with misguided “no-kill” policies warehouse dogs for months or even years, turning away countless animals. This leaves many animals in need with nowhere to go—and those who reproduce contribute to the companion animal overpopulation crisis even more.
Homeless dogs and cats often get hit by cars, are vulnerable to attacks by other animals and cruel humans, and contract, spread, suffer, and die from contagious diseases. With no shelter, they may get hypothermia when temperatures plummet in the winter, and suffer from heat exhaustion in the summer. The lives of homeless animals are spent in fear, discomfort, and loneliness.
Breeders and pet stores fuel the animal homelessness and overpopulation crisis by churning out more puppies and kittens while so many others sit in shelters or struggle to survive on the streets.
And every time someone buys an animal, there is one fewer home for an animal waiting at a shelter.
How YOU Can Score for Cats and Dogs
The companion animal overpopulation and homelessness crisis is deadly—and it’s our responsibility to help curb it. If you are ready to provide a lifetime of love and care for an animal, adopt—don’t shop. Always get your companions fixed and urge others to do the same.
For those who aren’t yet ready to make a lifelong commitment—or who have the time and space for another companion—fostering an animal can improve their chance at adoption by giving them opportunities to exercise and socialize. It also creates room for more animals in the shelter.
