By Stephanie Scott, SPCAI staff
On Sunday, August 21st when most of the U.S. media was still focused on the transgressions of a U.S. Olympic swimmer, another U.S. Olympian met up with SPCA International partners in Rio de Janeiro to tour the local public animal shelter and raise awareness about the hundreds of dogs and cats there who are longing for a better life. Eleanor Logan is no ordinary Olympian. A seasoned member of the U.S. women’s coxed 8, Elle already had two gold medals to her name from the Bejing and London Olympics when we met her en route to Rio in late July. On August 14th, with 500 meters left in the race, Elle and her teammates surged past the other boats to clinch their 3rd straight Olympic gold. With a lot of reasons to celebrate and focus on her team’s outstanding success, Elle still took the time that very day to tell SPCA International that she was now ready to help the animals of Rio who were displaced by the construction of the Olympic sites.
On Saturday August 20th, Elle visited a local veterinary clinic with SPCAI partners, Oito Vidas, where she met two young cats who had recently been rescued from Vila Autodromo by the Olympic Park. Elle made a commitment then and there to adopt both cats and bring them home with her to the United States. After hearing that more animals displaced from Olympic sites were being kept at the local public shelter and were in need of homes, Elle made plans to go visit them the next day in an effort to raise awareness about adoption. While she was there she made the heartwarming video you can watch below and our friends captured these pictures as she interacted with the animals.
SPCA International and Oito Vidas couldn’t be more impressed with this Olympic animal champion. We salute her!
If you are interested in giving a dog or cat from Rio a good home please visit Olympic Animals For Adoption.
