A basketball player's on-court performance could soon translate into thousands of meals for pets of families in need. Milwaukee Bucks center Myles Turner has joined an animal welfare campaign linking NBA scoring to support for underserved pet owners across the US. With a new partnership with Humane World for Animals, every point Turner scores during the 2026-2027 regular season will help feed pets, showing how pro athletes can use their athletic platforms to solve problems beyond the game.
Basketball points turned to pet food
Turner has signed on as an ambassador for Humane World for Animals' More Than a Pet campaign, which highlights families that can't afford to give their pets the care they need, states the report. Turner will be involved in the organization's Points for Pets program as part of the association. For every point scored during the upcoming NBA regular season, 250 meals will be donated to pets in underserved communities. Every 3-pointer will provide 1,000 meals, adds the online report. The campaign will include an online progress tracker on the More Than a Pet website, where supporters can track Turner's scoring performances and the number of meals those performances translate into throughout the season, also adds the report. That is at a time when access to basic pet care is still a big problem in the United States. According to Humane World for Animals, about 20 million pets live with families living in poverty, and of those animals, around 70 percent have never been to a vet.
A personal link to animal welfare
Turner's involvement comes from his own history as a pet owner. In August 2018, his fiancée, Aysia McCloud, adopted their cat Casper from Operation Kindness, an animal shelter in Dallas. The eight-year-old domestic shorthair has since become a fixture in their home. Casper is a lovely boy who is affectionate and sociable. He likes to spend time with the family, have his daily brushing sessions and find sunny spots around the house. His love of squeezing himself into boxes of all shapes and sizes has also become a part of his unique personality. Eventually, the couple's experience with Casper led to the creation of The Casper Foundation in December 2025. The animal welfare nonprofit primarily works with cats, partnering with shelters, helping with adoption efforts, and creating ways for people to get involved in animal welfare.
Following a successful WNBA campaign
Turner joins the campaign after a successful previous edition featuring Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride in 2026. She scored 775 points including 126 three-pointers, contributing a total of 319,750 pet meals. Humane World for Animals reported that these meals were then donated and delivered to families across the country. The program kicked off in 2024 with Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball, who scored 1,184 points, which equated to 296,000 meals for pets. Turner's participation will expose the program to a fresh NBA audience, extending its reach through one of the game's premier defensive players.
Support for families and their pets The More Than a Pet campaign additionally emphasizes the need to keep pets with the families that love them, rather than letting financial troubles lead owners to give up their companions. Rural Area Veterinary Services, Pets for Life and other programs . Humane World for Animals supports this goal. In total, these programs have assisted more than 750,000 pets in underserved communities. That work involves distributing 38 million pounds of pet food and 12,800 pallets of pet supplies worth more than $130 million. With Turner's participation, we will raise awareness about the need for accessible pet food, veterinary services and critical resources. This initiative shows how a basketball season can make a difference for a cause bigger than the scoreboard, with every basket an opportunity to help animals and the people who love them. Images Courtesy: istock and Instagram/mylesturner
