Joey Votto (the dog) having a great season just like his namesake
By: Taylor Mclagan
July 25, 2023
With the Cincinnati Reds season in full swing, we caught up with one of our shelter favorites, Joey Votto (the dog). Named after a famous Reds player, Joey Votto is a 5-year-old who came to Cincinnati Animal CARE as a stray on March 18th, 2022. Upon arrival, Joey Votto was severely underweight and terrified, but he was soon noticed by none other than (human) Cincinnati Reds player Jonathan India and his girlfriend Daniella Garcia-Parden!
“We walked into the shelter and asked to see the dogs,” Garcia-Pardon said during their Bally Sports Cincinnati interview with Joey Votto. “Then we saw him and thought he would be perfect to bring to Reds games.” That day, Joey Votto finally got his big break and left the shelter life behind, searching for his adoptive home and getting to be a dog in a home versus in a crowded shelter.
“When we first got Joey Votto, he looked so malnourished and unhealthy,” India explains “But now he looks amazing. He is healthy, happy, and loved. That is the biggest thing for me [and Daniella].” Joey Votto remained in foster care with India and Garcia-Pardon for the next six months. During this time, he joined them in their daily activities, including car rides, visits to the park, and snuggling in bed after a tiring day. “I didn’t think I would get this much out of it,” India said to Bally Sports. “I thought it would be hard with a dog… but he made it easy for us. He gave me something to look forward to every day coming home.”
After a few months in foster with India and Garcia-Pardon, Joey Votto, now known to his adoptive family as Votto, gained attention from various news stations such as WLWT, WKRC, and Bally Sports Cincinnati. During this time, he caught the eye of his adopters, the Arey family, who currently live in West Virginia. They drove all the way from the Mountain State to Cincinnati Animal CARE to meet Votto and fell in love with him immediately upon seeing him. “My husband and son, Bobby and Andrew, are huge Jonathan India fans,” says Amy Arey, Votto’s new adoptive Mom. “We follow Bally Sports Cincinnati where we ran across the interview of India and his girlfriend, Daniella, talking about fostering Joey Votto and what a great dog he was. I looked him up on Cincinnati Animal CARE and put in an application for him. We thought after the publicity he would be adopted quickly, but we were lucky enough to meet him and instantly knew his demeanor would fit great with us.”
Votto’s new family reports that he enjoys playing with their 10-year-old son, Andrew, and even goes to all his Little League games with him. The Arey family describes Votto as a fun-loving boy who adores everyone he meets. “Votto fits comfortably into our family. Andrew is ten; he and Votto spend significant time outside playing together, and Votto sleeps in bed with him every night.”
Votto was able to find the perfect foster parents and a permanent home where he will be valued and adored for the rest of his life. Cincinnati Animal CARE remains forever grateful to Jonathan & Daniella, as well as the Cincinnati Reds for giving Votto such a big platform to be met by the perfect family.
But you don’t need to be a famous second baseman for a Major League Baseball team to help save a life! Fostering with Cincinnati Animal CARE is free, the shelter provides necessary supplies and medical care, and if a busy Reds player can find time to do it, anyone can! Join the CAC Foster Fam today and give a dog a homerun!
