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Joe Flacco Raises Money For Baltimore Humane Society

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is showing his love for animals.

Weijia Jiang reports he is helping to keep a shelter in Baltimore open.

Flacco says he not only grew up with football, he grew up with animals. So when he was asked to help some shelter animals, it was an easy choice.

While the animals at the Baltimore Humane Society wait for a home, staff members wait for help to keep them there.

"It costs about $17 a day to take care of a dog and $7 to take care of a cat, so it's definitely expensive to run a shelter," Elizabeth Silber, Baltimore Humane Society.

Now, the shelter is working with an additional $9,000.

On Thursday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco presented the shelter with a check.

"When you come here and see animals like that put in these situations you feel for them and it's tough not to get involved," said Flacco.

Flacco raised the money with Dunkin' Donuts in the "Take Joe on the Go" campaign.

"We had customized boxes of joe with Joe on it. So Joe, Joe, it was very cool," said Stacey Carroll, Dunkin' Donuts.

During the last football season, whether it was coffee or the NFL star they loved, customers could buy boxes of joe and travel mugs with Joe's picture on it. Part of each sale added up to the gift. For Flacco, finding animals a home is personal.

"I grew up with a white boxer. It was deaf. We didn't know it when we bought it, but it was really cool. It became part of the family," said Flacco.

Flacco hopes the money will help the animals and the shelter out until the pets have a family of their own.

Right now there are 30 dogs and about 70 cats at the Humane Society waiting to be adopted.

Animal lovers can just come in, meet the animals and see which one is right for their family.

The Joe Flacco boxes and mugs are no longer available, but you can always donate to the Baltimore Humane Society by clicking here.

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