Former Major Leaguer champions pet adoption

This story is written by PetSmart Charities’ roving reporter, Howard Wolinsky

John Martin threw strikes for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers back in the 1980s. He has the World Series rings to prove it.

Last weekend, John threw a strike for pet adoption.

Jake comes home
Martin and his wife Diane adopted an 8-month-old boxer/Lab mix during PetSmart Charities’ National Adoption Weekend September 14-16. The dog they named Jake was waiting for them at the PetSmart store at Orland Hills, outside Chicago.

“Diane has been wanting to get a dog. She fell in love with Jake,” he says.

Their pet adoption was through Half-Way 2 Home Animal Rescue, a nonprofit in Orland Hills that finds foster homes for homeless pets until they can find permanent families. The group brings animals to PetSmart twice a month and was the lead partner in the area during National Adoption Weekend.

Half-Way 2 Home finds homes for dogs and cats, as well as small animals such as gerbils, mice and guinea pigs.

It’s just wonderful to see how people connect with these pets,” says Kristin-Beer-Zawarus, director and founder of Half-way 2 Home. “They’re saving these pets’ lives, and the pets are filling holes in their lives.”

Thanks to John and the rest of the Martin family, Jake is now safe at home.