PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon native Ryan Crouser is headed to the Paris Olympics after winning the shot put at the U.S. Olympic track and field team trials in Eugene. Crouser dominates the shot put circle, but when he isn't training, he spends a lot of time with his black lab named Koda.
"We constantly say, 'I can't remember what we did before we had Koda.' She's such a key component of our lives," Crouser said.
Thanks to Koda, Crouser has a new sponsor, thanks to Koda. The duo is featured in ads for the pet food brand, Nulo.
Shortly after clinching a spot on Team USA for the Paris Olympics, Crouser had the chance to tour the Oregon Humane Society's facility, including the brand-new Behavior and Rescue Center, which helps animals heal physically and socially before they get adopted.
The highlight of the visit, however, was the moment when Crouser met some of the dogs and cats looking for their forever families. He swapped out a shot put for a tennis ball to play fetch with dog Maisy, and after some treats and pets, gave her a well-deserved gold medal.
Then he caught up with dog Cleo, a pro at catching treats. The last two dogs Crouser met were Churchill and Blue Raspberry, two huskies.
All the animals that Crouser met at the Oregon Humane Society are part of his "team." Maisy has already been adopted, but anyone who adopts the other animals can receive six months' worth of free dog or cat food through Crouser's sponsor, Nulo.
For more information, visit the Oregon Humane Society's website.