The Chargers and Lazy Dog Restaurant are partnering with Paws for Life K9 rescue to help train River, a Golden retriever who was once a stray and is now included in the team picture!
River was named after long-time Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who spent all but one of his 16-year career as the Chargers signal caller.
The Chargers Pup program started in 2020, sponsored by Lazy Dog Restaurant, and this is the first year the group is partnering with Paws for Life K9 Rescue.
The program helps highlight the importance of service dogs for people with disabilities.
River is being specifically trained to be a service animal for a military veteran with PTSD.
The Chargers' commitment to helping animal welfare is apparent throughout the year with countless promotions, like the Most Valuable Pup, or "MVP."
Now in its second season, MVP highlights local animal shelters and/or rescues by inviting their staff and volunteers to attend games with dogs looking for their "fur-ever" homes. With a goal of raising awareness for the importance of pet adoption and fostering, to date 25 shelter/rescue dogs have been featured at 10 Chargers home games as an "MVP."
via Chargers.com
Over the past couple of years, the Chargers Impact Fund has helped countless animal shelters provide homes, medical services, and safe places to play.
Paws for Life works by training dogs alongside incarcerated individuals, working as a foster home for them, and providing the inmates with some canine-centered rehabilitation.
Once the dogs are trained to be service dogs, they'll get their canine good citizen or CGC certification through the American Kennel Club, and then the dogs will be introduced to their new families.
The three-year-old golden retriever will serve as the face of the Chargers' efforts in animal welfare for the season, and she's going to be a very good girl on the sidelines and in the locker room this year.
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