Brady Oliveira is a Gray Cup-winning team member of the CFL’s Blue Bombers from Winnipeg. When he’s not training, he can be found walking his own rescue dog, Nellie, or helping out his favorite rescue organization K9 Advocates. They happened to come along just when someone needed their help at a recent visit to Maple Grove Dog Park in St. Vital.
11-Year-Old Dog Decided to Go for A Swim
Ashley Bourgeois told CTV News that she was proud of her rescue dog for deciding to venture into the river for a swim. The dog suffers from arthritis at nearly 11 years old and she knows that swimming can be good for an arthritic dog’s joints. Unfortunately, the current was too strong for the senior dog and he was struggling to get to the bank. “I noticed when he was trying to go against the current – the water is pretty strong right now – I noticed he was struggling,” Bourgeois told CTV News. “The riverbank is really steep in that spot and he couldn’t get out.”
Pro Athlete Comes Along Just in Time to Help
Oliveira and his own rescue dog came along just in time to lend a helping hand. He noticed they were struggling and didn’t hesitate to step in to help, tossing social distancing aside for a more urgent way to help a fellow human. “It was just natural instincts for me to go over there and to help them,” Oliveira accounted to CTV News. He added, “It was definitely not the afternoon I was expecting, but I am so, so, so happy that I was there at that time.”
Just a Fellow Dog Lover Helping a Dog in Need
Bourgeois did not recognize Oliveira as a professional football player. He was wearing a Blue Bomber’s sweatshirt and physically looks the part, but when he’s at the dog park, he’s just another dog lover. He said to CTV News, “I’m just a huge dog-lover and I spend a lot of time in that Maple Grove Dog Park,” he said.
He’s Helped 50 Rescue Dogs Through K9 Advocates
Oliveira donates his time and money to a rescue group called K9 Advocates that helps rescue dogs in communities across Manitoba. In the offseason, Oliveira works with the group and has had a hand in rescuing about 50 dogs to date, including his own adorable pup, Nellie. Bourgeois added that rescue groups are in dire need during the pandemic and that we should all do whatever we can to help them continue saving the dogs that need help.
You can learn more about K9 Advocates and Oliveira’s work with them on Instagram.
H/T ctvnews.com
Featured Image Brady Oliveira/Instagram
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