Hunks and Hounds Pose for 2017 Rescue Men Calendar

Lori Ennis
by Lori Ennis
Rescue Men…bringing new meaning to the word “Superhero!” These inspirational humanitarians pose with their adopted dogs for 12 months of hot dates!


Picture, if you will, your typical “Superhero.”


You’re probably picturing a cape and some big muscles in tight fitting clothes. Doing, you know…superhero stuff like flying through the air and rescuing damsels in distress.


Now, check out what REAL superheroes look like!

Yes, we’d like to introduce you to RescueMen… inspirational humanitarians whose best animal buddies happen to be shelter animals.


Oh, and they happen to be tall drinks of water, if you know what we mean!


RescueMen USA is an organization co-founded by Jen Halopern (President of Pillows for Paws) and Felicia Greenfield (Founder of Grandpa Dave’s Creature Comforts) to promote the “Adopt, DON’T shop!” philosophy.


Related: How To Help Dog Shelters When You Can’t Adopt


Every year, approximately 2.4 million healthy and adoptable pets are euthanized in shelters. That’s about one animal every 13 seconds, and RescueMen founders find that completely unacceptable. (Shouldn’t we ALL?)


As Halopern and Greenfield both run their own animal charities, they put their heads together to figure out how to spread the “Adopt, don’t shop!” movement. Says Greenfield, “We wanted to reach out to the ‘non-animal’ population; to give them the message to ‘Adopt, don’t shop!'”


What better way to reach out than to highlight inspirational (oh, and hunky!) men who rescue, foster and/or adopt their animal companions, and in doing so, change their lives forever.


Related: 7 Ways A Shelter Dog Can Improve Your Life


Prior to the release of the 2017 RescueMen calendar (which is coming out next month!), the calendar featured men mostly local or known to the New York City area, where both women operate their other animal charities.


They wanted to reach bigger, though…get the message to people all over the country who don’t know about the horror of shelter lives or puppy mills, and so they contacted men outside of the region for a more national appeal. (Mr. April is Cooper Barnes, who voices a superhero dog on the Nickelodeon hit ‘Henry Danger.’) They also want to allow people to see the softer side of shelter dogs – to see extraordinary (and again, hot!) men doing the most normal of things with these amazing shelter dogs. They hope that in doing so, the myth that you probably won’t find a great pet at a shelter is shattered. Greenfield states, “Animals from shelters can be just as good, or even better, than animals you’d find at a pet store,” and judging by the looks of the relationships between the pets and humans of this calendar, that’s very evident!


All proceeds from the calendar go to to Halopern’s umbrella organization, Pillows for Paws. Pillows for Paws supplies local shelters with essential items they believe will not only benefit the overall health and welfare of the animals, but make them more adoptable as well. Dogs and cats who benefit from the supplies (beds, chew toys and enrichment items) are more relaxed and happier, which makes them much more appealing to someone looking for a forever pet.


The men of the calendar come from various walks of life…dentists, IT guys, cover models (yes, COVER MODELS!), and they are smart, intelligent (and handsome!) men who want to be role models for anyone interested in adding a pet to their family. They KNOW that the best friends are really found in shelters, and want the world to know to Adopt, NOT shop as well.


And let’s be honest…who wouldn’t listen to these guys?


So, the next time you think of Superhero, forget the tights and think of these RescueMen doing what they do best…saving the lives of precious shelter animals all over the country.

Lori Ennis
Lori Ennis

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