This season, Austin FC will continue to work alongside with Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) for a fourth consecutive season on the Mascot of the Match program, which sees an adoptable dog from the shelter featured at every Austin FC home match to help the mascot find a forever home. In 2024, Texas Lottery is joining the partnership to help amplify APA!’s tireless efforts to save the lives of pets that otherwise would be lost.
"Austin Pets Alive! is grateful to Austin FC for creating this groundbreaking partnership. MLS fans are introduced at every home match in Austin to adoptable dogs from the nonprofit animal shelter, “said Dr. Ellen Jefferson, President and CEO of Austin Pets Alive.
“Thanks to the first three seasons of this partnership, 61 Austin FC Honorary Mascots have been adopted and are now sleeping comfortably in warm homes instead of living in cold kennels at the shelter. We are thrilled that the Texas Lottery has chosen to sponsor this innovative partnership and look forward to even more Austin FC Honorary Mascot adoptions!"
Texas Lottery will help amplify the first-of-its-kind partnership which features APA! dogs through social media outreach and in-venue activations during each match at Q2 Stadium, all in support of Austin’s status as the country’s largest “no-kill” city and the promotion of APA!’s rescue, adoption, foster, and volunteerism efforts.
"The Texas Lottery takes great pride in making a positive impact on Texans and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to do that by presenting the Mascot of the Match to benefit Austin Pets Alive! at Austin FC home matches this season,” said Ryan Mindell, deputy executive director of the Texas Lottery. “This promotion and cause resonates with the entire community, creating a brighter and happier future not only for our fellow Texans, but also for dogs in need of an adoption. We are proud to share in that commitment to compassion and community with Austin FC and Austin Pets Alive!.”
The Austin FC and Austin Pets Alive partnership has helped over 60 Mascot of the Match dogs find their forever homes and will continue to increase the number of pets adopted with the help of Texas Lottery. The program continues to help keep Austin a pet-loving city.
