Caps Canine Calendars Raise Big for Homeward Trails

ARLINGTON, Va.- Following a recent Washington Capitals practice, Mandy Alzner, wife of defenseman Karl Alzner, and Taylor Winnik, wife of forward Daniel Winnik, presented a check for $67,298.78 on behalf of Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation to Sue Bell, founder and executive director of Homeward Trails Animal Rescue.

For more information on the dogs in the video, click here:
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The funds were raised through the sale of the 2017 Capitals Canine Calendar. The calendar featured photos of Capitals players Karl Alzner, Nicklas Backstrom, Andre Burakovsky, John Carlson, Taylor Chorney, Brett Connolly, Lars Eller, Marcus Johansson, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Matt Niskanen, Dmitry Orlov, T.J. Oshie, Alexander Ovechkin, Nate Schmidt, Tom Wilson and Daniel Winnik. Players posed with dogs available for adoption through Homeward Trails, along with some of their own pets. This year's calendar was shot at several historic locations throughout Washington, D.C. Some of the landmarks featured include the U.S. Capitol Building, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, D.C. War Memorial and U.S. Supreme Court Building. All photography was generously provided by Taylor Winnik. Photo retouching was courtesy of Virgil Ocampo Photography

One hundred percent of the proceeds from calendar sales benefitted Homeward Trails Animal Rescue. The funds will allow Homeward Trails to provide medical and behavioral care, as well as permanent homes for rescued animals. Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation has donated more than $181,800 to Homeward Trails through the sale of its Canine Calendar since 2014.

"We at Homeward Trails are absolutely overwhelmed by this incredible donation, which will help more than 1,000 homeless dogs in our program," said Homeward Trails founder and executive director Sue Bell. "To see the calendar project grow each year we've been involved is truly remarkable. We thank the Caps players, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, Mandy Alzner, Taylor Winnik and everyone else who made this possible. It is truly life saving for so many dogs."

Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is a nonprofit organization that provides pet adoption in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Homeward Trails seeks to find permanent adoptive homes in the mid-atlantic region for dogs and cats from high-kill shelters or whose owners can no longer care for them. They seek to reduce the rate of euthanasia of adoptable animals through the rescue and placement of homeless animals; to support proactive spay/neuter practices; to promote positive and ongoing behavioral training; and to educate the public about how to care for their animals in a humane way. Homeward Trails not only facilitates adoptions from local shelters, but also supports a large network of foster care providers who take homeless dogs and cats into their homes, care for them, rehabilitate them when needed, and prepare them for their permanent adoptive homes. For more information on Homeward Trails, go to
http://www.homewardtrails.org/
.