The professional skier is celebrating National Dog Day by call down awareness about creature acceptance , and we could n’t love him more .
Gus Kenworthy was only 11 geezerhood old when he realized a womb-to-tomb passion , which began with a stumble to an animalshelterwith his dad . There , he discovered his first dog , Mack , who became his best protagonist growing up and a wonderful addition to thefamily .
" Because of that experience , I intend I ’ve always felt strongly aboutanimal adoptionand know that had we not got Mack that day , he potentially could have been put down or lived a lamentable life , " Kenworthy tells Daily Paws . " I feel so prosperous that we got to give him an unbelievable life . "
Courtesy of Jen Rosenstein
The freestyle skier andOlympic medalistKenworthy has traveled the macrocosm competing on the slopes of Sochi all the way to Silvapana . But through all the ups and downs of training and competition , the dog buff still finds the time to preach for brute every chance he get .
It was during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia when he and his then - beau made headline with their efforts torescue a family of stray dogsand land them back to the U.S. TheHumane Societynamed Kenworthy an ' Inspirational Honoree ' for his campaign , and in 2018 , he exercise withHumane Society International(HSI ) to advocate on behalf of thousands of dogs in Seoul , South Korea around the same time as the Pyeongchang Games .
While in South Korea , Kenworthy adopted a promising ball of fluff , Beemo . The adorable ballock of fluff immediately graced the net with some of the sweetest celeb puppy picture on Instagram . But it was only a few poor month before Beemo tragically passed away from aheart conditionbefore she was even out of puppyhood .
Understandably , Kenworthy says he was heartbroken and " felt empty , " writing in anInstagram post at the timethat he ’d " never loved anything or anyone in the way that I bonk that wienerwurst and she is and will always be profoundly missed . "
But even through his grief , Kenworthy still remained active with HSI . It was n’t long before he ’d commence maintain tabs on another rescued litter from Korea , and simply could n’t take his eyes off a beautiful tawny - colored sweetheart . In the summer of 2018 , the Korean Jindo andLabrador retrievermix who ’d captured his attention joined him stateside .
“She’s Like a Teenage Girl”
Kenworthy decided to name the sweet piffling doggie Birdie because , he portion out , " birds were one of Beemo ’s favorite things in the world . "
Now almost 3 , Birdie and her human are simply inseparable . Kenworthy read some of the thing he does with Birdie are n’t that special , but they ’re better because she ’s with him . " We ’ll look out telly together , she ’ll hang out by my feet while I scan , we ’ll go forhikesandcar rides , " he says . " It ’s in reality not anything that any otherdog ownerdoesn’t also do , but it feels connect and bonded and just a better experience having her there . "
" She ’s like a teenage girl : she ’s abashed by her dad and she does n’t want to be around him and as far as her friends go , I ’m a failure , " he joke . " But at home , she in reality know me . "
How They Celebrate National Dog Day
In an effort to help other adoptable cats and frankfurter find their forever homes , Kenworthy and Birdie are team up up with Autotrader’sDogtraderadoption website this twelvemonth just in time for National Dog Day .
He and Birdie are cover model for Autotrader ’s 2022 " Calen - Dogs"calendar , which is just as cute as you might imagine and feature notable dog - fluencers as well as other cute canines hoping for big - hearted humans to bring them home . For every calendar claim , the company will make a donation toAdopt-a-Pet.comto abide the arrangement in its efforts to help rescue dogs everywhere .
" Whether it ’s aroad tripor running an errand , she really eff rid in the car , " Kenworthy says . " We sleep together go to Joshua Tree for hikes in the desert in the cool month , and in the warm calendar month , we like going to the beach — although she does n’t like thewater , to be fair . My young man says it take her , like , two days to dry out ! "
" There are so many animals in shelter that need theirforever home , so I hope that anyone listen about my narrative and my experience with Birdie would experience bucked up or implored to see adopting a pet , " Kenworthy says . " It really has changed my life for the better in so many mode . "
If any BFFs ( Best Fur Friends ) merit a gold ribbon , it ’s these two . It ’s clean-cut Birdie and Kenworthy deal an incredible hamper , and we ca n’t wait to see how they use their star power for practiced next .
