The ninth annual Orioles Pet Calendar, presented by Pet+E.R., went on sale today, Tuesday, August 22, with proceeds benefiting the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS), a nonprofit shelter that accepts and cares for all animals in need.
The 16-month calendar, presented by Pet+E.R. for the third consecutive year, features photos of Orioles players with their pets and various BARCS animals. Players who will be featured in this year's calendar include: BRAD BRACH, DYLAN BUNDY, CHRIS DAVIS, CALEB JOSEPH, KEVIN GAUSMAN, MYCHAL GIVENS, J.J. HARDY, MANNY MACHADO, TREY MANCINI, WADE MILEY, DARREN O'DAY, JOEY RICKARD, CHRIS TILLMAN, and MARK TRUMBO, as well as manager BUCK SHOWALTER.
The 2017 calendar will be available for $15 at Oriole Park, the Orioles Team Store in the York Galleria in York, Pa., and at www.orioles.com/petcalendar.
Additionally, KEVIN GAUSMAN will appear for a calendar autograph signing by Gate E from 5:45-6:15 p.m. prior to Tuesday's game. The first 100 fans who purchase the 2017-18 calendar at the Community Booth near Gate D can receive a voucher for one autograph per person. Once the vouchers have been handed out, no additional fans will be able to enter the line. Fans must have their voucher and calendar in hand as proof of purchase to receive an autograph.
Gausman and his wife, TAYLOR, teamed up with BARCS earlier this season to launch a new program "Tails with Tales," that encourages childhood reading and promotes social interaction with shelter pets.
Footage from Tails with Tales and behind-the-scenes footage from the Orioles pet calendar photoshoot is available courtesy of Orioles Productions at baltimore.brickftp.com (username: Media2017; password: orioles2017) and photographs are attached courtesy of the Orioles.
The Orioles have helped to raise more than $256,000 for BARCS over the last eight years, including nearly $77,000 through Orioles pet calendar sales in 2016-2017. The largest companion animal shelter in Maryland, BARCS takes in more than 11,000 dogs and cats and 1,000 wildlife and other small mammals annually. On any given day, BARCS cares for 250 or more dogs and cats in the shelter, and an additional 2,000 animals in foster care annually.