Watching the thrilling NFL matches may make you a fan of the players’ sportsmanship and love for the sport. You may even have the impression that these tough players are invincible and that they can always endure various physical strains.
The players in the league, however, are still humans; they are subject to certain emotional vulnerabilities. They also have feelings, and at times, they may feel that they will need to lean on someone to feel safe.
The San Francisco 49ers seemed to realize this, which was why they enlisted the help of a one-year-old French Bulldog named Zoe. It was the first team in the NFL to have an emotional support dog.
A loving companion
Austin Moss, the player engagement director of the 49ers, adopted Zoe in 2018. Since then, Zoe’s presence has added warmth and positivity to the team. There were many times when the players would spend some time with Zoe even before their matches.
One spokesperson from the team said that Zoe would always brighten everyone’s day. Certain team activities, such as meetings and practices, could be hectic and full of stress. With that, Zoe would act as the team’s stress reliever.
The players in the team are physically powerful, but they are not really used to expressing their emotions. In this aspect, Zoe helped a lot in making the players feel that they could be themselves. While Zoe might be the smallest team member, she had contributed a significant impact.
On her way to the next level
While Zoe was officially designated as an emotional support dog, she was already on her way to becoming a certified therapy dog.
For now, she was enjoying the company of the team’s star players. Since joining the team, Zoe had adorable interactions with the likes of Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo. You could see her photos with her famous friends on her official Instagram account: @the49ersfrenchie.
Video Source: Good Morning America via YouTube
