Brewer Outfielder Teams Up With His Rescued Cat and 'Best Friend,' Slick Willie, to Encourage Animal Adoption
For Immediate Release:
March 27, 2012
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Milwaukee, Wis. -- When MLB outfielder Nyjer Morgan landed in Milwaukee, he decided to bring part of his new city into his new home—so he went to an animal shelter and picked out a feisty gray kitten, whom he named Slick Willie. Months later, Slick Willie is one of the Brewer outfielder's best friends—and to encourage others to find their own best friends, Morgan and Willie are starring together in a new PETA ad that reads, "Let a Shelter Dog or Cat Steal Your Heart. Adopt, and Never Buy, Your #1 Fan Today."
"Yeah, it was basically a catmance," admits Morgan in an exclusive PETA interview. "[A]s soon as I saw the guy, he looked at me and I looked at him, and basically … I kinda melted. So even though I am, you know, all male … the cat kinda stole my heart there. And I'm glad I definitely grabbed Slick Willie."
Approximately 8 million unwanted dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year in the U.S., and half of them must be euthanized simply because there aren't enough good homes. Buying an animal from a pet store or breeder robs a homeless animal of his or her chance at finding a good home. The less fortunate never even make it to a safe haven—they are left to fend for themselves on the streets, where they are often subjected to abuse by cruel people or succumb to starvation, disease, or injuries.
"It's very neat just being able to give back and help somebody else out that needs the opportunity to live a beautiful life," says Morgan. "I didn't understand just the magnitude of … having a cat .… It's an emotional attachment, and I always called myself the 'alpha male silverback gorilla,' but … now I have just a little soft side," he jokes. "So I didn't say that too loud, and I didn't let nobody know."
Morgan joins a growing list of athletes—including Chase Utley, Chris Andersen, Chad Ochocinco, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tony Gonzalez, Gilbert Arenas, and many more—who have teamed up with PETA to help animals.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.