Courtesy of Cvet’s Pets
Photo Courtesy Tracey Buyce Photography
Another CFL team has come on board supporting what one of their players is doing to help animals and Military Veterans in Canada. Chris Getzlaf is that player and the Roughriders are the team. This isn’t the first time the Riders have endorsed the work this selfless player has done with Cvet’s Pets. In January of 2013 the Riders followed Getzlaf’s journey to Bonfil, Mexico where he worked at an animal clinic with Cvet’s Pets Founder & former Roughrider & Blue Bomber Chris Cvetkovic.
“Getzlaf joined myself and a number of other CFL players in Bonfil, Mexico working at a spay and neuter clinic and working with injured animals. Getz was one of the guys to jump right in and assisted in every way he could. It’s amazing when you see a player so well liked and respected and of his caliber to give back like that. Getz is everything that a pro athlete should be,” says Cvetkovic the long-time Blue Bomber.
“The Saskatchewan Roughriders were the first team to give me a chance in the CFL back in 2002. In the 2 years I spent in Saskatchewan I can honestly say this was a team that cared just as much about its community as the community cared about it. It says a lot about an organization that is willing to support its players in what they are doing with Cvet’s Pets. The Riders endorsed Getzlaf in his efforts in Bonfil with us and now again they are promoting Getzlaf’s involvement with Cvet’s Pets… in particular our Cvet’s Pets Helping Vets program,” stated Cvetkovic.
Cvet’s Pets has been working hard in Manitoba to raise money and awareness for their Cvet’s Pets Helping Vets program. The program teams up with Courageous Companions to provide medical service dogs to Veterans across Canada suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Cvet’s Pets has been providing starter kits for every Veteran who receives a service dog. In addition, they raise awareness and are working to provide additional housing for veterans coming in to Winnipeg to train with their service dogs.
All veterans in need of a service dog receive their animal and supplies absolutely free of charge. It is a way of serving those that have served our country. Cvet’s Pets Helping Vets and Courageous Companions often use the phrase “Rescuing One Soul To Save Another” due to the fact that approximately 90% of the dogs that go through the medical service dog training are rescued from local shelters. In fact a number of their service dogs have come from Smoking Gun Rescue out of Melville SK.
What makes Cvet’s Pets unique is that it is fuelled by 23 players and counting from all 9 CFL teams, a unified effort that includes Roughrider Chris Getzlaf, one of the original players to offer to lend his face and voice to Cvet’s Pets.
“I have the utmost respect for our veterans and what they have done for our country. I am an animal lover and having an avenue like Cvet’s Pets to bring the two of them together is a perfect scenario,” says the Saskatchewan born receiver.
To have a player like Getzlaf join us and support us is a testament to the quality of person he is. We at Cvet’s Pets & Courageous Companions are grateful for his support and we can speak for our veterans when we say thank you to Getzlaf and the Saskatchewan Roughriders organization for their support.
For more information on Cvet’s Pets, or to donate please visit cvetspets.com
