Knicks Star Rescues Cats
Knicks Star OG Anunoby Helps NYC Shelter Cats Find Forever Homes
Fresh off the New York Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years, forward OG Anunoby is using his spotlight to help a different kind of underdog. The star player has teamed up with Animal Care Centers of NYC, Royal Canin, and VCA Animal Hospitals to launch "OG's Starting Five" — a roster of five shelter cats handpicked by Anunoby and made available for adoption NBC New York.
The campaign is already working. Three of the five cats were adopted within 48 hours of the announcement, including Damu, an 11-year-old senior cat with chronic medical issues. Adoption inquiries at ACC NYC surged 25% in the days that followed, according to shelter officials.
Knicks' Title Win Sparks a Rescue Cat Campaign
The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 on June 10, 2026, ending a 53-year championship drought. Two days later, Anunoby announced the "Starting Five" initiative. "We're resilient, mentally tough, and we won," he said. "Now I want to help these cats find their own wins" NBC Chicago.
Anunoby, known as a self-described cat person, hand-selected five cats from ACC NYC's overcrowded shelters. Each cat chosen will receive one full year of free, unlimited veterinary exams from VCA Animal Hospitals. Royal Canin committed $300,000 to national shelter support as part of the partnership NBC Miami.
Damu's Adoption Breaks the Senior Cat Barrier
The biggest story from the campaign is Damu, an 11-year-old cat with medical needs. Senior cats like Damu typically wait three times longer for adoption than kittens. Anunoby's decision to include him in the "Starting Five" directly targeted that problem NBC Bay Area.
Shelter experts say the free VCA medical vouchers are just as important as the celebrity endorsement. The biggest barrier to adopting senior cats is fear of high vet bills. By removing that cost, the partnership gave cats like Damu a real shot at finding a home NBC DFW.
NYC Shelters Were Already at a Breaking Point
The campaign comes at a critical moment for NYC animal welfare. By late 2025, ACC NYC was housing over 1,000 animals — roughly 120% of its ideal capacity — for the first time in its 30-year history. The shelter was forced to suspend non-emergency intakes NBC Connecticut.
More pet owners are surrendering animals due to rising living costs, a trend one celebrity partnership cannot fully reverse. But the $300,000 from Royal Canin provides meaningful financial support for a shelter system that has struggled with funding for years NBC San Diego.
A New Model for Athletes, Cities, and Shelters
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly backed the "Starting Five" initiative as part of a broader "New York Wins" civic pride push tied to the Knicks' championship. His administration is reportedly studying the partnership as a model for future "Private-Public-Athlete" deals that fund city services without direct taxpayer increases NBC New York.
For Royal Canin and VCA, the campaign is also a strategic business move — using a high-visibility sports moment to reach younger, urban pet owners. But for the two remaining "Starting Five" cats still waiting for homes, and the hundreds more behind them at ACC NYC, the stakes are far more personal NBC Chicago.
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