When Matt Damon showed up at the Eastwood Ranch Foundation, the plan was to go on a Dodo Dream Date with a pittie named Betsy. As a huge dog-lover, however, Matt couldn’t help but stop to meet a bunch of other pups first.
When asked if he thought he might adopt a dog that day, Matt said it was unlikely — but he couldn’t totally rule it out.
The Dodo
“My wife’s with me,” Matt told The Dodo. “We have five dogs already. We love to rescue dogs, they’re just the greatest, and we live in Brooklyn, so it’s tough to keep accruing these dogs, but we love them, and we do give them a great life, and so who knows? I wouldn’t bet against us leaving with a dog today.”
The first pup Matt hung out with was Jojo, a 6-month-old puppy still figuring out how the world works. Matt set her down in front of a basket of toys, but she was more interested in the basket than the toys inside it.
The Dodo
Next, Matt met Piper, a blind and mostly deaf dog who still loves getting affection from anyone and everyone.
“You’re just like any dog, huh?” Matt said.
The Dodo
While Matt loved on Piper, he talked a little about his upcoming movie “The Odyssey.” The movie marks his third time collaborating with Christopher Nolan, but his first time as the lead, and he chatted about what that experience was like.
Matt moved from Piper to Duke, a bigger dog who likes to greet everyone with a toy in his mouth. After getting to know him a bit, it was finally time for the main event: Matt’s date with Betsy.
The Dodo
Betsy was pulled from an LA County shelter and brought to Eastwood Ranch Foundation, where she’s been waiting for a home for almost two years. Matt and Betsy got to know each other while chatting with Alison Eastwood, founder of Eastwood Ranch.
The Dodo
Matt quickly discovered that Betsy was nothing but a lovebug looking for a family to spend her life with. She brought Matt lots of toys, and he laughed when he learned she loves to play dressup.
“Just like me,” Matt said. “That’s what I do for a living.”
The Dodo
As he hung out with Betsy, Matt talked some more about the Odyssey and how one of the story lines is about Odysseus and his dog.
“It’s nice to think that almost 3,000 years ago, when that story was written, people were still thinking that way about dogs,” Matt said.
To wrap up the date, Matt helped pack a bag of toys for Betsy to take with her to her future forever home, which he hoped she would find very soon.
Betsy is available for adoption through Eastwood Ranch Foundation.
