Footballers from Bologna Champion Dog Adoption Initiatives
“It’s been a pleasure, I care for you dearly,” Lewis Ferguson said to a dog before leaving the kennel, having shared a profound experience there: spending hours with the animals, letting them out from their confines while they await loving homes. The Bologna FC midfielder joined teammates Beukema, Ndoye, Castro, Fabbian, and Erlic in visiting shelters in Marzabotto and Calderara, lending support to both the dogs and the dedicated individuals ensuring these animals have a dignified life despite being without families. This initiative is part of a broader message that the club has embraced, particularly highlighted through a touching video released at Christmas.
But there’s more on the cards for Bologna FC - during Sunday’s match against Lazio at the Dall'Ara Stadium, a charitable event will occur, bringing concrete assistance to canines in need. Volunteers and dog trainers from the Marzabotto and Calderara facilities will be stationed throughout the stadium, giving fans a chance to learn up close about the welfare efforts for dogs and participate in a fundraising campaign.
The Bologna players have invested their time and faces to ensure the stories of these dogs and their caretakers resonate durably with supporters, aiming to convey an essential message: adopting a shelter dog is the finest choice one can make for a four-legged companion. Moreover, engaging with facilities dedicated to finding the perfect match between animal and family promises an adoption journey that can become one of life’s most rewarding experiences.
In their time spent at the shelters, the Bologna players uncovered an often misguided perception—that only "undesirable" animals find their way there. In truth, many of those dogs languishing behind bars are simply misunderstood or have faced abandonment due to prior owners growing weary, realising that these creatures require care and respect, not mere toys. “Perhaps the issue lies with how they’ve been raised by their owners,” Ndoye reflects in the video, considering the unfortunate circumstances that lead to the abandonment of these loving animals. It’s a reminder that education should start with those who choose to take a dog into their home.
