Olympic Bobsled Pilot is a Champion for Animals in New PETA Campaign

Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian Reminds Everyone That Dogs Are ‘a Part of Our Team’

For Immediate Release:
February 20, 2018

Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382

Just ahead of her Olympic competition in Pyeongchang, barrier-breaking athlete Jazmine Fenlator-Victorian—who previously competed for Team USA as a New Jersey native but is making history this year representing Jamaica in the country’s first women’s Olympic bobsled team—appears in a new video and public service announcement (PSA) for PETA encouraging fans to be champions for animals and always treat their dogs like family.

“[A]s a bobsledder, my team is the most important thing to me,” begins Fenlator-Victorian in the PSA. “You know who else feels that way? Our dogs! … They need to feel loved and know that they’re a part of our team.”

That’s why she advises everyone to give dogs lots of love and affection and never leave them outdoors to fend for themselves, especially during the cold winter months: “Please keep them indoors with you, and make sure they’re warm and comfortable,” she says. “And don’t forget to keep your best buddy in mind when preparing for natural disasters or other emergencies that can occur without warning.”

In the accompanying Q&A spot, she describes how a childhood filled with animals inspired her activism: “I grew up with animals all the way up until my adult life, so I have a huge passion to make sure that they are taken care of and have good homes,” she says.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—reminds everyone to keep animal companions indoors in extreme weather. If an evacuation becomes necessary, know your destination in advance, place animals in secure carriers, ensure that they’re wearing ID tags, and take along enough food and water to last for a few days.

Fenlator-Victorian is part of a long list of athletes—including Olympic gold medalists Amanda Beard (swimming), Meagan Duhamel (figure skating), Candace Parker (basketball), and Hannah Teter (snowboarding)—who have teamed up with PETA to promote kindness to animals.

For more information about including animals in emergency preparations, please visit PETA.org.