A pro-tennis tournament in Brazil is winning hearts all over with their unique ballboys and girls or shall we say ‘balldogs’. The tournament organisers have replaced the ballboys and ballgirls with dogs and the latter are totally justifying the decision.

For the third year running, six shelter dogs – Cindy, Nanda, Pretinha, Mia, Arlete and Ovelha – have replaced actual ballboys and girls at the Brazilian Open, Sao Paulo. Wearing sweatbands on their paws and scarves around their neck, the dogs are doing their job with utmost aplomb.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfb6uO1jKOQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_control

Well, the only issue that has arose so far is that the dogs refuse to give the ball back sometimes. But then again, the players are unlikely to complain much over it. The dogs are attracting attention from all over the globe.

Here is a video showing the dogs in action:

The Brazilian Tennis Open officials, along with NGO Premier Pet, have started a campaign to find shelters for the dogs for past three years.

Speaking to CNN- Madalena Spinazzola- from Premier Pet, said:

“They are dogs that have had a difficult trajectory, yes, but what we want to point out is not the history suffered from the past, but to prove that no matter what they have gone through, they can be great companions today and in the future.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfVt6ZtD6Cl/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_control

In 2016, the tournament had used four dogs as ballboys and girls. One of them was even named Serena after tennis legend Serena Williams.

The prime purpose of this move is to find shelters for the dogs. It will all help in promoting the adoption of homeless dogs.