It was love at first sight for Chris Evans. The Hollywood superstar was filming the 2017 movie Gifted in Savannah when production took him to a local animal shelter.
Chris (Captain America, Knives Out) explains the moment he met Dodger. He says, “I wish I knew more of his origin story. They said he was a street dog, which I just can’t even imagine. It almost breaks my heart to think about, because he’s such a sweet guy, so even his time on the streets didn’t harden him too much.
“We were filming a scene in the movie that was at a shelter. Seven dogs got adopted that day by the crew, which was just incredible. I had no intentions of adopting a dog that day. I started walking up and down the aisles of dogs and saw Dodger, and it really was one of those few moments that happen in life that just clicked. He just looked incredible.”
For Evans, it was love at first sight where Dodger was concerned. “He was just a very striking dog—just really handsome and really sweet and loving,” Evans recalls. So striking that Evans couldn’t bear the thought of Dodger going home with anyone else.
The superhero star took a moment to capture the first interaction on video. He says, “Actually, I posted the video not long ago of the first moment I saw him because the minute I saw him, I was like, I gotta film this because I know that this is the beginning of something…it’s unlike the beginning of a romantic relationship where you don’t know where it’ll go. You don’t know if it’ll be something or a friendship. You don’t know if this is going to evolve.
“The dog doesn’t know that this is the beginning of something special…he has no real familiarity with you, no trust yet. But you know that this is the beginning of an incredible journey. And so I was filming every second of it and just felt very kismet.”
Dodger the Pomeranian?
Evans can hardly believe Dodger will be a decade old later this year; he still boasts puppy-like energy! That may be due to Dodger’s unique breed makeup. “We did a little DNA swab,” Evans says. “It came back Lab, Boxer, [pit bull terrier]—and Pomeranian. I don’t know how Pomeranian worked into the mix. I feel like for all of those DNA tests, there’s always a little surprise breed in there!” Pomeranians are especially active, regularly described as a small but mighty breed.
Although Dodger isn’t as small as a purebred Pom, you can easily spot the characteristic Pom twinkle in his eye.
A Pawsitive Partnership
That makes Chris’s partnership with dog food company Jinx, whose mission is to offer high-quality and healthy food at an accessible price point, a natural pairing. He says, “Not only am I a dog lover, but the people involved with [Jinx] have a good mission statement and are all dog owners and lovers themselves.” He continues, “We’re a big dog-loving country, and the mission statement of Jinx just made sense for me. You meet the people involved and it was just so much integrity and honesty and sincerity and it was a no-brainer.”
As The Daily Paws reports, the company gives back as well. In August, the company gave 5% of every Jinx purchase made at Walmart to United Services Organizations (USO) programs, including the USO Canine Program. “[Jinx] is not just helping dogs nutritionally, but trying to give back where they can,” Evans says.
Dodger certainly hasn’t lodged any complaints about his dad’s Jinx partnership. Dodger literally comes running in at dinnertime. “My God, he knows the sound of the bag,” Evans laughs. And of course, Dodger serves as an unofficial taste tester for all new Jinx recipes, but it’s been hard to top his all-time favorite: the jerky.
It’s pretty safe to say that both Dodger and Chris have found their forever home with each other. Chris is so devoted to his pup that Dodger Evans has his own Instagram account! Chris says, “He is the exact same dog from the first day. He’s got so much energy, so much love. He’s just the happiest funniest, sweetest, brand-new soul.”
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