Matt Damon took a special furry friend out on a date in honor of California’s Adopt-A-Pet day.
“I have a very special dream date planned. I’m here at the Eastwood Ranch right now as you can see,” the Odyssey actor, 55, said in an Instagram video on Friday, June 5, while holding a puppy in his arms. “And I’m here with JoJo. JoJo’s a beautiful little puppy but my dream date is with a beautiful girl named Betsy, who’s been here for two years and she’s looking for a home.”
Before meeting with Betsy, Damon gave viewers a tour of the animal rescue, which is based in Agoura Hills, California, while getting to know some of the pups up for adoption. He brought JoJo, who is a 6-month-old puppy, to the center’s play area for her to grab a toy. The actor also met Piper, a 4-year-old pooch, who is blind and partially deaf.
“The work they do here is amazing,” Damon said of the work Eastwood Ranch does. “Here, they rescue dogs from kill shelters. So this is kind of their last hope.”
Damon then went to meet his date. Founder Alison Eastwood shared that Betsy is a pitbull who was rescued from a shelter in Los Angeles and has been at the ranch for “a year and a half.” The nonprofit founder explained that pitbulls typically have a harder time getting adopted compared to other breeds due to preconceived notions. However, Eastwood shared that Betsy is “great with people” and children but tends to be shy around other dogs.
Damon approached Betsy with a bouquet plushie and asked, “Can I interest you in the flowers, Betsy?”
He also gave Betsy a red bandana so she looked spiffy for their date.
“I’m gonna show you off for a little bit,” Damon gushed.
After getting Betsy all dolled up, Damon sat down with the dog to give her some pets and snuggles.
“I’m told she’s really cuddly,” he said while petting her, which made her happy. “That smile, I love that smile dogs get when they’re happy and they’re just content.”
As part of the date, Damon put together a basket of toys for Betsy to play with.
“Whatever toys she doesn’t destroy are going in the bag along with the toys we already have in here to go home with Betsy with whoever comes to rescue her and adopt her,” he said.
Damon also explained that Betsy was his first date in a long time. The actor has been married to Luciana Damon since 2005. The couple share daughters Alexia, Isabella, Gia and Stella.
“So Betsy was my date today. For one reason, it’s the first date my wife has allowed me to go on in 23 years. But the other, the real reason was that Betsy’s been here the longest,” he said in the clip. “She’s been here for a year and a half. And while this is a great place for a dog, it’s not a permanent place for a dog. And what she needs is a family to take her in.”
Matt and his family currently have five pets at their home. He joked that his wife is the one who loves to add new members to their family.
“It’s not even a conversation at this point; she just comes home with them,” he quipped.
California is celebrating Adopt-a-Pet Day on Saturday, June 6. The state-wide initiative, which is also backed by the ASPCA, encourages citizens to adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue to help save those at risk of euthanasia. At participating California shelters, adoption fees will be waived.
Betsy and more animals are available for adoption at the Eastwood Center.
