Brendan Warren and Amerks Launch War Dawg of the Week Adoption Program

Brendan Warren announced the launch of War Dawg of the Week, a weekly adoption and fostering initiative tied to the Rochester Americans and running across Amerks social platforms and in-game during select home games. The program, unveiled Feb. 24, 2026, will spotlight a local pet or family in need each week in partnership with Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester.

The Amerks said the weekly series will feature profiles of different dogs and cats, including breed, age, personality traits, and previous ownership history. “Over the next several weeks, the Amerks will highlight various pets that are currently in the care of Lollypop Farm and available for adoption across the team’s social media platforms as well as in-game during select home games,” the team release states.

Lollypop Farm President and CEO Alice Calabrese appears in the release and framed the collaboration as a local pairing of institutions. “Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is proud to partner with Brendan Warren and the Rochester Americans organization for an event that brings together two iconic Rochester institutions around something our community truly loves – animals,” Calabrese said. “This partnership is a fun and meaningful way to celebrate our connections with our pets while expanding awareness of the importance of pet adoption and the wide range of services and resources Lollypop Farm offers to support pets and the people who love them. We’re excited to connect with fans and their dogs in a way that strengthens our community and helps more pets find the loving homes they deserve.”

The program ties directly to Warren’s public advocacy for pet adoption and his own household: Warren and his wife, Brittney, are listed in the release as owners of Tuna, an eight-month-old Boxer, and two cats, Merry and Pippin, both rescued together three years ago while Warren was playing in Rochester. The Amerks described Warren as a strong advocate for pet adoption in announcing the initiative.

Warren’s profile in Rochester gives the program instant traction. The 6-foot, 194-pound forward set AHL career highs this season with nine goals and 18 points in 55 games, overcame last season’s broken jaw and a later concussion, and played a pivotal role in the Calder Cup Playoffs when his Game 1 goal sparked a comeback that led to an 11-0 run to close the series against the Syracuse Crunch; he capped the three-game sweep with an empty-net goal. Coach Leone is quoted praising Warren’s impact: “I’ve been talking to guys all year, like, he’s a … huge part of our team,” Leone said. Warren has described himself as “just a two-way, fast, physical forward” and noted he is “a really good penalty killer and providing a little bit of secondary scoring.”

The announcement was published on the Amerks site and picked up by outlets including OurSportsCentral and BuffaloHockeyBeat, where fan comments already labeled Warren “WARDAWG” and urged he deserves a shot at the NHL. The team release did not name the first War Dawg to be featured; Amerks said fans should watch the club’s social channels and select home-game presentations over the next several weeks for each weekly profile and adoption information.