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Bills Punter Honors Local Animal Shelter On Cleats

Originally posted on FanNation Bills Central
By Jonathan Alfano | Last updated 12/12/23

The Buffalo Bills not only earned a gutsy road win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday to keep pace in the playoff race, but they got to rock some snazzy cleats while doing so.

Sunday's game doubled as the Bills' turn to partake in the NFL's annual "My Cause My Cleats" initiative, which allows players to promote non-profit organizations through the use of custom cleats. Most teams took part in the initiative in Week 13, but Buffalo and other teams who were on bye got to celebrate in Week 14 instead.

While many players got in on the fun, Bills punter Sam Martin had one of the most notable stories behind his cleats. The 33-year-old chose to pay tribute to the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter, and a particular dog named Ralph. The shelter shared more details on Martin's cleats and the special pup in a social media post.

"Ralph was chosen to be the dog featured because his story encompasses a lot of the realities shelters everywhere face," the shelter wrote on Instagram. "Originally found as an abandoned dog at Christmas 2020, needing some special training and a foster home, happily adopted but then returned and again needing a foster home and time, patience and faith that he (a middle aged Pitbull with separation anxiety and some quirks) was worth the time, money and several months in a much coveted foster home."

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A post shared by City Of Buffalo Animal Shelter (@cityofbuffaloanimalshelter)

For a happy ending to the story, Ralph was adopted on Saturday, just before Martin laced up the cleats with his face on them.

Other Bills to partake in the initiative included Damar Hamlin with his Chasing M's Foundation, Tyrel Dodson with Best Buddies and Quintin Morris with the Special Olympics.

Martin punted four times on Sunday, averaging 46.5 yards per attempt and pinning the Chiefs inside their own 20 once. As he and the Bills earned a hard-fought victory, a certain furry friend watched on from his new forever home.

"A city of underdogs, a city of good neighbors, we will keep believing and Billieving together," the shelter wrote.

This article first appeared on FanNation Bills Central and was syndicated with permission.

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