Rescue puppies and older dogs from Birmingham Dogs Home enjoyed a memorable visit with Aston Villa Men's First Team this week, surprising players at the club’s training ground at Bodymoor Heath.

Players arrived after training and were welcomed by the charity team into a relaxed, dog-filled space. Two designated areas had been set up, with paw print floor stickers guiding players through the rooms to meet the dogs. One room housed the puppies, while older dogs waited calmly in the reception area, ready to greet players as they made their way through.

Four rescue puppies, all Cocker Spaniel mixes and nearly ten weeks old, met the squad indoors for play, affection and plenty of photos. The puppies arrived wearing Aston Villa bandanas printed with player numbers, which quickly became a talking point among the squad.

The puppies had a tough start in life after being surrendered very young when their owner could no longer cope. They arrived underweight and severely unwell and were hand-reared around the clock by Birmingham Dogs Home staff. Now thriving, the puppies confidently soaked up the attention and have already been reserved for adoption.

As players left the puppy room, they were met by older dogs Rory and Aspen, who enjoyed calm, unhurried time with the squad. Rory and Aspen are older residents who are still awaiting their forever homes.

Players on the day included Ollie Watkins, Emi Martínez, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Tammy Abraham and captain John McGinn. Players also shared stories and photos of their own dogs, from Dobermans and Rottweilers to Dachshunds.

Players gravitated straight to the dogs, chatting to the Birmingham Dogs Home team, asking questions about the charity and swapping stories and photos of their own pets. Many players returned after showering, simply because they wanted more time with the dogs.

Birmingham Dogs Home currently has 166 homeless dogs in its care and supports more than 2,000 dogs each year across the West Midlands. While the average dog waits around three months to be rehomed, older dogs often wait much longer, sometimes many months or even years. With puppies typically rehomed quickly, older dogs are more likely to be overlooked.

The visit builds on a previous collaboration between Birmingham Dogs Home and Aston Villa Women, who welcomed rescue puppies to their training ground last year, and it is hoped the collaboration will inspire people to support Birmingham Dogs Home.

You can support these puppies and other dogs in need by donating, sharing Birmingham Dogs Home’s message, visiting their centre, or considering adoption. Every act of support helps provide safety and kindness to dogs who need it most.