The Official Site of Chase Utley

Mon, Apr 5th 2010, 11:54

Chase Utley Goes to Bat for Animals

As second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chase Utley helped his team win the World Series in 2008. Chase is doing awesome things off the field too. He and his wife, Jen, work with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA). Their annual Utley All-Star Animals event raises money for the PSPCA and awareness about animal cruelty. The PSPCA shelter is also where the Utleys adopted their adorable dog (pictured above with Chase). He took a few minutes to tell us more.

KIND News: What is Utley All-Star Animals?

Chase Utley: The event is an annual casino night that has raised over a half million dollars. We cover the walls of the space with animal-themed art. We also display seized dogfighting equipment to show people the torture these animals endure. We plan to keep hosting the event as long as people keep coming!

KN: What do you think is the biggest problem pets face?

CU: Every issue is important, from spaying and neutering to pet adoptions to animal cruelty. Personally, I focus on cruelty. It is an issue that can be helped with education. We need stricter laws and increased punishment for people who commit animal cruelty. Right now animal abusers do not face enough consequences.

KN: What are some things kids can do to help animals?

CU: Kids can do a ton! Organize fundraisers at your school for your local shelters. They always need supplies for the animals, from blankets to toys to treats. Also teach your fellow students how to treat animals with the kindness they deserve. Make sure you report any act of cruelty that you see or hear about. We had a local group of kids in Philadelphia who held a lemonade stand and sent the profits to the PSPCA. Everything helps, so get creative!

KN: What can you tell us about your pets?

CU: Our cats, Sebastian and Sugar, are both 5 years old and are from shelters in Los Angeles. Our dog, Jack, is almost 2 years old and he is a beautiful pit bull. We adopted him last year from the PSPCA. All three are neutered or spayed, of course!

KN: Do you have any funny pet stories?

CU: One story that comes to mind is when my wife bought Jack a pair of “dog snow shoes.” (We live in the city and when they put salt on the streets in the winter it can burn dogs’ feet.) When we put the shoes on him, he acted like he couldn’t walk and was flopping around on the floor like a fish. He never wore those shoes again!

KN: You’ve also worked with charities that help people, right?

CU: I have done charity work for a program called Philadelphia Futures which mentors high school students. I also support the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia by sending kids to baseball games. I’ve done an event called RBI Glove Drive that helps provide baseball gloves to inner city baseball programs.

KN: Why do you spend so much time helping others?

CU: I do all of these things because it is important to give back to your community. You also meet a ton of incredible people and animals!