Chris Evans and Alba Baptista are coming up on their first anniversary next month, and they’re definitely thinking about expanding their brood. They currently have an almost-10-year-old, Dodger, who Chris adopted as a two-year-old, years before meeting his future wife. The couple are keen now to adopt together, but they can’t make up their minds on whether to adopt a puppy or a senior dog. Yes, “dog,” what did you think we were talking about? Chris recently spelled out their predicament to People Mag, while also touting his ongoing partnership with Jinx dog food and a special deal they have right now:
“The question becomes, do we do the puppy route, or do we adopt an older dog?” the Avengers star, 43, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Anytime you see one of those stories about some eight or nine-year-old dog that gets adopted who’s had a rough life, it just kills you. And so, to some degree, that’s kind of what we’ve been thinking.”
While welcoming a new pet has been “on our mind,” says Evans, the couple hasn’t acted on the urge yet.
As for when they might pull the trigger, “We both need a little bit of downtime for that,” the actor says. “We’ve always said, ‘Well, maybe we’ll just go down to the shelter,’ and I’m like, ‘Listen, do you really think we’re going to walk down there and not leave with at least one dog?’ There’s no way. So if we make the decision to actually walk in the door, we’re walking out with one.”
Evans is still helping other dogs while he waits for the right time to adopt another pet. The devoted dog dad partnered with Jinx premium dog food brand in 2022. He says the goal is to help dog owners offer high-quality products to their pets.
“Good nutrition for dogs shouldn’t only be for people who can afford it,” he explains.
“At the end of the day, Dodger is the real temperature check for me. He loves it, and that’s all I needed to be a part of this,” Evans adds.
This summer, starting August 1, Jinx will donate 5% of every purchase at Walmart to the United Service Organization (USO) to help support active military members, including the USO Canine Program.
When it comes to Dodger, Evans says the pooch knows how to make him laugh. “You know what he’ll do sometimes, which is so cute? I won’t have eyes on him. Then, you just kind of turn around, and you notice him,” the actor says.
“He’s in the play position where his head is down, his butt’s up in the air, and his tail’s just going behind his head. And it’s the funniest thing in the world.”
Evans acknowledges that it would be easier to get Dodger, who’s turning 10 this year, a canine companion if he could predict the outcome.
“I wish I knew if it’s what he wanted. I wish I could just ask him because he loves being around dogs,” he says. “But when it’s bedtime, if there’s another dog coming in the room, he might be like, ‘Hold on.’ So I don’t know.”
“Listen, do you really think we’re going to walk down there and not leave with at least one dog?” That is correct, Chris, you and Alba will not be able to visit a shelter just to take a look. I speak from experience. One Sunday in 2012 I said, “Oh, I’ll just stop by the adoption fair on my way home.” Famous last words. I saw My Girl, I didn’t know if she was a puppy or a senior dog, and I just knew, “Yep, that’s my girl.” A vet estimated that she was around 18 months old, so I didn’t go through the trials of puppyhood with her, but she had been on her own up until the rescue, so I definitely had to work to earn her trust. Now she is a senior dog, and there’s plenty of stress there, too. I speak from experience. In fact, I may or may not have just sobbed my way through a last minute vet appointment because we just started My Girl on her Cushing’s disease medication and four days in My Girl stopped eating food altogether and was throwing up and lethargic and I was thinking, “No no no no no no no nope, My Girl HAS to bounce back from this, we’re not ready,” and luckily the vet gave her some anti-nausea meds and an appetite stimulant and she finally had one small meal since then but yeah, it’s been a long few days…
So, Chris and Alba, there really is no “better” way to go here, vis-à-vis puppy or senior dog. Either one will bring euphoric joy and devastating heartache; welcome to parenthood. I say show up to the shelter and let the dog choose you. And Dodger. Actually just leave all the decision making to Dodger, he will, after all, be in charge of his new sibling.
Photos credit: IMAGO/Jennifer Bloc / Avalon, Getty and via Instagram/Chris Evans, YouTube/Buzzfeed