PETA Goes Crazy After The Cleveland Browns After Their Live Dog Mascot Died On Tuesday

On Tuesday, Cleveland Browns live dog mascot Swagger Jr., known as SJ, passed away. SJ was born in 2018 and passed away at five years old. In 2020, SJ’s father, Swagger, the original live Browns mascot, passed away, leaving SJ to take over his father’s role.

We are sad to announce the passing of our beloved mascot, SJ. We are so grateful for his many years of loyal support and cherish all of the wonderful memories he helped create for fans young and old. pic.twitter.com/bQ6c6HiuA7

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 2, 2024

Live dog mascots are very popular in sports, especially in college games. Schools like Georgia use a bulldog, Texas A&M uses a Collie, and even teams use more oversized live mascots, like Texas’s real-life Longhorn.

Of course, there was going to be outrage from some groups about the Cleveland Browns using a live mascot moving forward, and the group People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals, known as PETA, came out and urged the Browns to stop using live dog mascots.

PETA Is Against The Cleveland Browns Using Live Mascots

A report from TMZ states the president of PETA, Tracy Reiman, released a statement on the passing of SJ and said, “generations of breeding for a certain look have left bullmastiffs prone to hip dysplasia, cancer, and life-threatening heart issues, among other painful conditions.” She added that she believed Swagger Jr.’s death “should be seen as a damning indictment of an industry that deliberately churns out these doomed breathing-impaired breeds.”

Reiman has urged the Browns to stop using the live mascot. It sounds like the Browns have a dog waiting to replace SJ, and the organization has been great at handling and protecting dogs.

Every year at training camp, the Browns have dogs up for adoption, and fans can adopt a new friend. The Browns ensure dogs go to a great home, just like SJ had for the past five years.

The Browns will most likely not stop the tradition of having a live dog on the sidelines, and hopefully, the next puppy will be ready to watch some great football this fall.