Going to Bat for Our Best Friends: Pohlads support local pet groups

The Pohlads' girls, left to right: Hannah, Tasha and Luca

By Meredeth Barzen

When Minnesotans hear the name Pohlad, they think of baseball. After all, that’s where local businessman and Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad has made a name for himself. But look a little closer at the prominent family’s favorite causes and you’ll start to associate the name with another great American pastime: dogs.

The Pohlad Family Foundation has supported local pet groups like Helping Paws, says Rebecca Pohlad, who has emerged as the most visibly dog-oriented member of the family. She and husband Robert (one of Carl’s three sons) are Dog Mom and Dog Dad to three of the luckiest German shepherds on the planet—9-year-old Luca, 8-year-old Tasha, and 1-year-old Hannah roam where they will on the couple’s 25-acre property in Washington’s San Juan Islands near Seattle. Hannah likes to chase deer, Pohlad says (“I think she will pass out if she ever catches one!”), and adds that the pup also loves to take a dip in the pool, then shake water all over innocent bystanders.

“Luca loves to be the center of attention,” Rebecca says, “Tasha is aloof, but when she is alone with you, she is a love. Hannah is just plain funny—can’t explain it, but she makes me laugh all the time. She loves to snuggle.”

Though Robert never had dogs growing up, he took his marriage to Rebecca as an excuse to add a canine member to the family. “We got our first cocker spaniel a week after being married and after she died, we have had shepherds ever since—six total in our 32 years of marriage,” Rebecca says. “Our [three] sons loved having what I call ‘the girls,’—they are my female companions.”

And while the Pohlad dogs are living the good life on the West coast, Rebecca and Robert keep local animals close to their hearts as well. Rebecca is a big fan of The Pet Project—so much so that she donated to the group in her dog-loving friends’ names as Christmas gifts last year. “I want people in these troubled times to be able to keep their pets. Families are losing their homes and sometimes do not have enough money for food. What an even worse blow to a family than also having to give up their pet,” she says. “That is why The Pet Project means so much to me.”

Rebecca also counts the Animal Humane Society as a group she believes in. “Animals cannot speak for themselves; they cannot express the hurt of being beaten or being hungry, so we must be there for them,” she says. “The Animal Humane Society of Golden Valley does so much good and they deserve support from all of us that can help. My goal is to not have to see the commercials on TV about animals that are in need; and that all animals will be cared for with kindness and have homes with love and food.” Rebecca adds that she’s just heard about MN SNAP, and will be following their progress as well.

When they’re in town, Rebecca somehow summons up the energy to take three full-grown German shepherds out for a social day. “Our favorite place is Lucia’s,” she says. “They have a lovely water bar for dogs and Lucia also loves dogs and has two of her own.”

And though she finds it hard to explain her love for her dogs, Rebecca offers a mantra that she and her family live by: “Be thankful for what you have. Be aware of what is around you. Use you time, talents or financial support to help those less fortunate.”