Wes Welker Wants You to ‘Catch the Love’ By Adopting—Not Buying—Dogs and Cats

Broncos Wide Receiver Stars Alongside His Rescued Pup in a New PETA Campaign Honoring National Dog Day

For Immediate Release:
August 26, 2014

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Shortly after moving to Denver, NFL wide receiver Wes Welker and his wife decided to make an addition to their family: an adopted mixed-breed dog, whom he named Penny. Just in time for National Dog Day today, Welker teamed up with PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—to co-star with Penny in a new ad that proclaims, “Catch the Love. Adopt. Don’t Buy.”

“There are so many dogs out there who need someone to come along and give them a home, and I’m so glad to have found Penny,” says Welker. “No matter how I do out on the field, she’s always happy to see me when I come home. It’s an unconditional love.”

Not every homeless dog is as lucky as Penny, though. In the U.S., 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year, half of whom are euthanized simply because there aren’t enough good homes for them. Others never even make it to a safe haven—they’re left to fend for themselves on the streets, where they’re abused by cruel people, become injured, or succumb to starvation or disease. Buying an animal from a pet store or breeder means that a homeless animal loses his or her chance at finding a good home.

Welker joins a growing list of athletes—including Aaron Curry, Ty Lawson, Tony Gonzalez, Gilbert Arenas, Antoine Bethea, Chris Andersen, Glenn Dorsey, and many more—who’ve teamed up with PETA to help animals.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.