Every year approximately four million dogs and cats are killed at animal shelters around the country because homes can’t be found for them. Most of these animals are healthy and would make great pets. Organizations like The Humane Society tirelessly try to help as many of these animals as they can, but they can’t do it without help.  

In New York, the Humane Society is getting a big boost from a professional sports team.  The coach of the New York Rangers, John Tortorella, is teaming his foundation up with the Best Friends Animal Society to sponsor the first John Tortorella’s NYC Dog Walk. All proceeds will go towards the Westchester Humane Society and similar organizations. Coach Tortorella is a long-time advocate for animal adoptions and practices what he preaches.  His foundation website shows pictures of his rescue dogs and has this message from Coach Tortorella:

“This spring our family adopted Blaze, our third rescue and fourth dog, from a shelter he’d lived in for three years. He lived with 28 other dogs and over fifty cats, in filthy, unhealthy, inhumane conditions, slowly starving from being malnourished and provided with inadequate veterinarian care. Within three miles of where we lived for three years, since moving to New York to coach the Rangers, these animals suffered while, though unknowingly, we did nothing. We will never turn away again.

“Our family foundation is partnering with the New York Rangers, to hold a dog walk fundraising event. We are reaching out to you, the Rangers’ fans and dog enthusiasts, to help us bring humane conditions to this shelter as well as generating awareness for proper animal care. Come take a walk with myself, the players and our families, to raise funds that will make a substantive difference for the betterment of animals. Thank you and see you there!”

– Head Coach John Tortorella

The NYC Dog Walk will take place Sunday September 9^th at Riverside Park in New York. Players, coaches and alumni from the New York Rangers will be there along with hopefully hundreds of dog walkers. There will be dogs from the shelter and the opportunity for people to begin the process of adopting one of these great dogs. The Westchester Humane Society is a No Kill shelter… one of many No Kill shelters that need help saving thousands of potential pets from a premature death.  You can find full details about the NYC Dog Walk here. 

While this event is taking place in New York, there are ways to help shelters in every neighborhood. You can look for a local Humane Society shelter or go to websites like Adopt-A-Pet to find shelters near you.