Original Article: https://www.austinpetsalive.org/blog/austin-pets-alive-and-austin-fc-announce-honorary-mascot-partnership

Apr 06, 2021

AUSTIN, TX — Austin FC today announced an innovative community partnership with Austin Pets Alive! to showcase eligible dogs as honorary Austin FC mascots at Q2 Stadium in an effort to raise the profile of dog adoption throughout the region.

The first-of-its-kind honorary mascot partnership will see APA! dogs available for adoption featured as Austin FC honorary mascots at each Austin FC regular season home match throughout the 2021 season. Aligned with Austin’s status as the country’s largest “no-kill” city, Austin FC and Austin Pets Alive! will promote APA!’s rescue, adoption, foster, and volunteerism efforts through this unique community platform.

In support of finding loving homes for adoptable pets available through APA!, Austin FC will provide additional exposure for the featured pets through social media outreach and in-venue activations during each match at Q2 Stadium, including the participation of a dog within the pre-match activations that occurs shortly before kickoff of each match.

“Austin FC’s partnership with APA! is unique in sports yet incredibly authentic in Austin,” said Austin FC President, Andy Loughnane. “By featuring APA! dogs as honorary mascots at Austin FC home matches, our Club and supporters can help at-risk dogs in Austin by introducing them to our dog-loving community.”

“APA! has been fortunate enough to be a part of the Austin community for a little over a decade now,” said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, APA!’s President and CEO. “We’ve grown with this community and are excited to take a seat next to Austin FC and be a part of this new development in such a unique way! This is a really fun adventure to be on!”

“Austin Pets Alive! is beyond honored to join the Austin FC team in such a special way. To be able to highlight the amazing dogs in our care, those that are most at risk for euthanasia, to this audience is really quite a dream. It is our hope to connect with the team and its fans on a deep level and we look forward to cheering for Austin’s team” said Katera Berent, APA!’s PR and Events Manager

Alongside the city’s other shelter systems, APA! supports Austin’s position as a model city for the “No-Kill” movement across the country and internationally. Giving over 90,000 animals a second chance at life over the last decade, APA! believes that every shelter animal in Central Texas and beyond deserves a chance at life. This partnership provides another avenue for APA! to create awareness around the shelter animals available for adoption.

Source: Austin Pets Alive