When La Liga side Espanyol walked onto the pitch against Mallorca last Saturday, they were accompanied by eleven escorts, as is the tradition for most teams. However, instead of children, who the teams normally bring out onto the pitch, these mascots were dogs.
While it might have seemed like an (undeniably cute) marketing gimmick, or simply an idea to appeal to the fans, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Those eleven dogs were all without homes, and the purpose was to raise awareness for the increasing amount of pets being abandoned or put up for adoption.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as other social media platforms, the club posted information on all eleven dogs that walked out onto the field — their names, information, and where to reach out so that any fans could adopt them and give them the homes that they deserve.
📣 ¡Pericos! Tenemos que encontrarles un hogar a estos peludos, que mañana saltarán al campo con nuestros jugadores 🐶
— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) October 4, 2024
🧵 ¡Vamos con un hilo para que los conozcáis mejor y con toda la información para su adopción!#LosPericosNoAbandonan pic.twitter.com/X0VMeN9zcu
However, while the focus was on the eleven dogs on the pitch, the real goal was to bring attention to all abandoned pets — not just those in Barcelona, and not just those eleven dogs that made it onto the field.
“The main objective of this campaign is to raise awareness that people should not abandon their pets and to promote adoption,” said Alberto Ariza, the club’s Area Social Director. “Additionally, we help to highlight shelters that lack sufficient resources.”
Espanyol started this campaign last year — the first of its kind in La Liga or La Liga 2 history — and it was immediately a big hit. The club’s tweet received over 3.3 million impressions on Twitter/X, helping the campaign gain much-needed exposure.
While this year’s tweet hasn’t been quite as successful yet, it still received over one million impressions, while getting thousands of likes and interactions on various other social media platforms, including Instagram, where a photo of star striker Alejo Véliz holding one of the dogs, named Groot, received over 24 thousand likes.
The club made sure that the fans had an extra incentive to help out, too. Last season, they offered a free ticket to the upcoming match against Eibar to anyone who bought a special scarf and also donated a blanket and food.
There was again a prize this year: everyone who donated towards the cause — with materials for both cats and dogs accepted — will be entered into a prize draw, where two winners receive a shirt signed by their favorite player, a VIP experience for two, two corporate tickets and two invitations to take the RCDE Stadium tour, per the official club statement.
“We are a football club, and we have the capacity to influence society. Last year had an impact, but this year has grown because we are in the top division,” said Ariza. “We want to help bring visibility to a problem we have in Spain and worldwide.”
For those interested and able to give, the club accepts donations — last year, they asked for blankets, towels, feed, and cans of food — delivered to the RCD Espanyol Stores at the RCD Espanyol Stadium and the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque until October 13th.
A lot went into the campaign and its promotion — it wasn’t as simple as having the dogs walk (or be carried) onto the field, and all of a sudden everyone would become aware. There was extensive planning and promotion, which involved many different employees and organizations.
And, of course, they needed the players and coaches to be involved in the promotions. As it is clear from the smiles on the player’s faces, this wasn’t something that they minded doing.
“Obviously, the players and coaches have been eager to help and spread the campaign. When we explained that they needed to take the dogs out and record some videos beforehand, they were delighted,” said Ariza. “Many footballers have dogs at home, and it shows. It also coincides with October 4th, which is World Animal Day.”
One of these players is Pol Lozano — a Spanish midfielder who has spent his entire career at Espanyol. To raise awareness, Lozano attended a press conference with one of his dogs, Mango, who he had found abandoned in some trash — and has become, in Lozano’s own words, one of the best things that happened in his life.
🐶 Mango es un de los dos perritos de Pol. Se lo encontró en un contenedor de basura, junto a otros cachorritos.
— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) October 2, 2024
😍 Hoy, @lozanopol26 sale en rueda de prensa con su mejor amigo para concienciar sobre la adopción. #LosPericosNoAbandonan pic.twitter.com/5Tyl3OEtbm
Lozano was one of many members of the club to help, with manager Manolo González even posing with perros and gatos alike.
The motto behind Espanyol’s campaign is simple: ‘Los Pericos no abandonan.’ It literally translates to, the parakeets don’t abandon — with parakeets being the club’s long-standing nickname. However, for Ariza and Espanyol, these are more than just words.
“We are a pet-friendly club. Our mascot is a parakeet,” explained Ariza. “For us, it’s a motto that goes beyond that: parakeets do not abandon their team, their people, or their pets. There is a commitment from the club and the fans.”
–
Photo taken by Carlos Mira, via Flickr.
