I love dogs.
Billions of others in this world do as well. Our family has a pair dachshunds — Randy and Angel — we got about a decade ago from a rescue organization.
So naturally I was excited earlier this week to play a small part in the Texans Pup introduction to the public.
If you're unfamiliar with Texans Pup, please get familiar HERE. Basically, the Texans and Kroger teamed up with America's Vet Dogs to fund the training of a puppy that will eventually become a service dog for a veteran or first-responder.
The Houston Texans partnered with Kroger and America's VetDogs to adopt a yellow Labrador Retriever to train as a future service dog for a veteran or first responder.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
An image from the July 19, 2021 Texans Pup unveiling at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Texans Pup took part in a photo shoot with TORO and the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, met with some men and women from the USO and also mingled with a handful of Kroger employees. He even attended a "press conference".
After about four hours of activity, Texans Pup and his handlers called it a day. He took an excellent nap.
Our dogs are pretty well-behaved, but not as well-behaved as Texans Pup. Also, his breath doesn't smell as awful as theirs.
Below are a few more fun facts about the guy, who you can follow on various social media platforms. He's got jokes.
- Gordon, a yellow lab, is the father of Texans Pup.
- Barbara, meanwhile, is the mother. She's a black lab.
- Texans Pup has five siblings
- All of his siblings are yellow labs.
- Texans Pup shares a grandmother with the service dog named Sully. For many years, Sully was the service dog of President George H.W. Bush.
- After his early training, Texans Pup will return to Smithtown, New York for his formal service-dog training.
- When he's finished with training, Texans Pup will be paired--at no cost--with a veteran or first-responder with disabilities.
