There’s a shelter pet out there who would love to meet you. With rescue cats and dogs, it’s really hard to say whether it’s the human being who truly saves the animal, or vice versa.
Tomorrow will see Chicago Cubs centerfielder Albert Almora, along with his wife Krystal, participate in an event entitled “Intentional Walk” with PAWS Chicago. The event’s goal is to raise awareness about the need to walk dogs at local animal shelters.
The Almoras, along with a team of Cubs front office volunteers, will visit the PAWS shelter in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood and take a few of the shelter canines out for a walk. Shelter cats and dogs are much more fortunate than street animals in this sense- they have food, water, warmth and medical care.
However, animals that have found a loving home have all of that, plus social stimulation and companionship. There simply aren’t enough shelter volunteers to go around and give all these the animals the play time, exercise and love that they need. Shelter pets spend an overwhelming majority of their lives confined to a cage, not roaming free. Kudos to Albert Almora for doing his part, and bringing more attention to this issue.
He’s not the only Chicago athlete who loves dogs and brings awareness to their needs. USWNT and Chicago Red Stars forward Christen Press has done public service announcements, alongside her own rescue pup, for PETA. They even had a dog friendly match day event this season.
Another premier athlete who works with PETA to help canines is Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Texas A&M alumnus sent a strongly worded letter calling out his alma mater for cruel experiments performed on dogs.
In his rookie year of 2016, Almora played 47 games, and hit .277 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs in 112 ABs for a .308 OBP, .455 SLG, .763 OPS. This, through 54 games and 126 ABs, he’s put up remarkably similar and consistent numbers.
The sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft is hitting .286 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs for a .338 OBP, .405 SLG, .743 OPS.
With shelter dogs though, Albert Almora is proverbially batting .1000
Almora and the Cubs host the San Diego Padres Monday-Wednesday for a very brief home stand.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes to WGN CLTV and KOZN.
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