A football player fell into depression and his team adopted a puppy as emotional support

Mental health issues can affect anyone. This was the case of an American football player named Solomon Thomas, who fell into depression after the loss of his sister and, by adopting an adorable French bulldog named Zoë with his team, he found emotional support.

O awesome.club researched the player’s history and how Zoë came into his life, as the mascot of the San Francisco 49ers team, making history as the first emotional support dog to join the NFL, the professional American football league.

Solomon Thomas had a sister whom he considered the light of his life. However, despite reflecting a strong personality, for circumstantial reasons she ended her own life.

The San Francisco 49ers team player went through a period of depression after that tragic loss. His sister’s death affected him so much that he began participating in suicide prevention activities, encouraging people to share their grief and ask for help.

Months after Thomas’ sister’s suicide, the team attended a camp where they shared a French bulldog named Vito. Thomas liked the puppy and felt relaxed every time he played with him.

Team coach Austin Moss, at Thomas’s request and seeing how he got along with Vito, decided to adopt a French bulldog puppy whom he named Zoë. In a short time, the dog became an important figure to calm the anxiety of the players, especially Thomas.

For Solomon Thomas, Zoë’s presence at the training facility was essential in getting out of his depression. The dog is able to interpret her mood, and each time the player enters the room, she runs directly to him to keep him company.

Every time Zoë hears the doors open, she runs to meet the team at Moss’s office door. It is at these moments that Thomas sees her and walks over to hug her. For the player, about 10 or 15 minutes playing with her is enough to completely recover from her intense day.

Thomas promoted mental health awareness in his twitter accountwithout forgetting the suicide prevention campaigns, with the support of his family.

Since her adoption, Zoë has become the NFL’s first emotional support animal, helping to lift the spirits of the 49ers by relieving athletes of the stress caused before and after each game.

In such a competitive environment, in which players reflect hardness in their personality, the presence of a dog makes these “tough” men relax and live in a more cheerful environment.

At night, the little dog leaves with Moss, and when the team is away, she spends most of her time resting at the training facility located near Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

On Instagram, Zoë wins the hearts of her football followers and fans. The account is managed by Moss. The technical director posts images of the little dog that lives with the team’s players, including Solomon Thomas, who is seen in some photos.

Currently, the little dog is certified as an emotional support mascot and will soon begin her training as a support animal to provide her services to hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions.

Do you think a pet is the best therapy for depression and anxiety? What other ways to treat these mental illnesses do you know of? Leave us your comments.