Verona and Milan players to carry rescue puppies for Serie A game | OneFootball

Hellas Verona have announced a very special initiative for Friday’s Serie A match against Milan, as the players will be accompanied by rescue puppies.

The game kicks off at the Stadio Bentegodi on Friday at 19.45 GMT to open Week 17.

While as usual each player will be accompanied by a mascot, this time there is an extra special twist with the presence of seven puppies from the ENPA cats and dogs rescue centre.

The captains of the two sides, plus another five players throughout the two teams, will carry the puppies out with them for the pre-match duties.

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The puppies are all formally adopted by Hellas, who will be pay for their stay at the centre, and it is hoped that they can end up with some of the millions of families watching the game on television to find their forever homes.

The puppies – two boys and five girls – are named Zeno, Mastino, Olimpia, Arena, Bra, Hellas and Verona, all references to the club and city.

Match-worn shirts from the Hellas players will also be auctioned off with the funds going to the shelter.

Verona adopt rescue puppies