There are plenty of reasons to love Subaru, not least of which is its outstanding cars, but now there is one more. Starting on August 25th at the first Philadelphia Union game, Subaru began filling empty stadium seats at Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, with cardboard cutouts of real, adoptable rescue dogs. The adorable cutouts will remain in place throughout the entire season as part of the Subaru Loves Pets initiative, which helps rescue dogs and cats by promoting pet adoptions and through fundraising.
Why did Subaru of America fill a Soccer Stadium with Cardboard Photos of Dogs?
Rafferty Subaru’s support for rescue dogs and cats is nothing new, but in February, Subaru and the Philadelphia Union joined forces in a partnership to benefit the greater Philadelphia community with charitable programs. While fans are not allowed in the stands due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was decided to fill the seats with photographs instead. The cardboard cutout idea, dubbed “Dogs of Ben,” was inspired by the Union’s team supporter group Sons of Ben and aims to help local shelters with pet adoptions. The reason the cutout idea is especially appealing to Subaru is best summed up by Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Subaru of America, “Our love of pets runs as deeply as our love for soccer, and from the onset of our partnership with the Union, we knew we wanted to bring our furry friends out to Subaru Park and bring awareness to adopting shelter pets.”
What is the Subaru Loves Pets Initiative?
Subaru Loves Pets is part of Subaru’s Love Promise which strives to make the world a better place and to show love and respect to all people. Simply put, Subaru Loves Pets means that Subaru cares about pets and supports organizations that do good for them. According to the Subaru website, Subaru and its retailers have donated over $28 million to support pet adoptions at local animal shelters and have helped over 230 thousand rescue dogs and cats. Locally, Rafferty Subaru actively supports Providence Animal Center throughout the year.
What does Providence Animal Center do for Dogs?
Providence Animal Center, formerly known as the Delaware County SPCA, goes beyond just pet adoptions. According to its website, the center offers “life-affirming rescue, medical care, treatment, protection and placement of animals that forever upholds the critical importance of the human-animal bond.” In addition, the organization prevents future pet overpopulation by supporting public veterinary services, humane law enforcement, and pet food pantries. Subaru and the Philadelphia Union worked with the Providence Animal Center to fill stadium seats with cutout rescue dogs available for adoption at the center.
How does Rafferty Subaru support Providence Animal Center?
Rafferty Subaru, who received the 2020 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment award recognizing Subaru retailers who are making the world a better place by supporting their local communities, is a proud partner of the Providence Animal Center. As part of that partnership, Rafferty Subaru has participated in projects that have helped local rescue dogs and cats, including a pet adoption event at the dealership where all adoption fees were donated by Rafferty Subaru. In addition, during Subaru’s “Share the Love” event last holiday season, customers who purchased a Subaru at Rafferty could donate to national or local charities, including the Providence Animal Center. Rafferty Subaru and other retailers raised over $118 million for charity as participants in that event.
Why Adopt a Shelter Pet?
Cardboard cutouts of rescue dogs at Philadelphia Union games are an adorable way to promote local shelters like the Providence Animal Center. The biggest reason to adopt a rescue dog or cat from a shelter as opposed to buying one at a pet store is that you are saving a life. Pet stores add to animal populations that are already overcrowded and this strains local adoption centers. When you adopt pets from an animal shelter you are making room for other animals who need care and preventing healthy animals from being euthanized.
Subaru is proud of its partnerships with the Philadelphia Union and the Providence Animal Center and their joint project to put life-sized images of real adoptable rescue dogs in stadium seats at Philadelphia Union games to encourage pet adoptions. Supporting pet adoptions is just one more way that Subaru makes good on its promise to make the world a better place and to be more than just a car company.
Subaru is proud of its partnerships with the Philadelphia Union and the Providence Animal Center and their joint project to put life-sized images of real adoptable rescue dogs in stadium seats at Philadelphia Union games to encourage pet adoptions. Supporting pet adoptions is just one more way that Subaru makes good on its promise to make the world a better place and to be more than just a car company.
Contact Rafferty Subaru to learn more about our efforts to support local rescue dogs and cats through pet adoptions or to test drive a Subaru today!
