In the promo for the episode, the good doc has bought an engagement ring and practices in the mirror asking Dr. Helen Sharpe (Freema Agyeman) to marry him. But in real life, Eggold’s favorite leading lady and scene partner is his beloved dog, Jody, who he adopted from a shelter more than a decade ago. “I walked around the shelter and Jody just jumped up and was licking my hands, like, ‘We’re friends now. Let’s hang out.’ Since that day, we’ve been pretty much inseparable.” Now, Eggold and Jody are doing their bit for PETA to encourage people to adopt, not shop. “There are so many great dogs out there who need a home and just have so much love to give,” Eggold says in the video below. “I understand people’s desire to want this ‘perfect’ dog, but you’re not going to beat a rescue dog. They just have the biggest hearts in the world.” The ad comes amid reports that animal shelters are facing a flood of homeless animals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eggold continues, “Dogs become a part of the family so quickly. They’re in your family photos. They sleep with you at night. There’s so many great dogs out there that need a home and have so much love to give. It’s really sad to neglect those dogs because they don’t have the kind of coat you want or something. I understand people’s desire to sort of want this perfect dog but you’re not going to beat a rescue dog. They just have the biggest hearts in the world.” Not every dog is as lucky as Jody. Around 70 million dogs and cats are homeless in the U.S. at any given time. An estimated 10 percent of them end up in animal shelters, where many must eventually be euthanized for reasons including injury, illness, old age, emotional and psychological damage, and a lack of good homes. That’s why Eggold and PETA advocate for adoption—including for senior dogs, who have all the wisdom of their years and so much love to give—and urge guardians to have their animal companions spayed or neutered. New Amsterdam airs Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC. Next, Check Out Our Complete Diagnosis for New Amsterdam Season 4!
