How Miami Marlins gave Bark at the Park night’s ‘very good boy’ the VIP treatment

MIAMI — It all started with a video of a dog staring longingly at another dog eating hot dogs during the Miami Marlins Bark at the Park night on June 22.

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Peter Silveira, said he was working on June 23 when his wife told him she had seen a viral video of their dog, Jonah, behaving despite the temptation.

“He is a very good boy,” Silveira said.

After a massive search, MLB fans helped the Miami Marlins team connect with Jonah, a 6-year-old Arubian Cunucu rescue living in Miami-Dade.

“Seeing that face, we knew we had to do something to make his day,” Alex Parker, the chief brand officer of the Miami Marlins, said.

Jonah wore a custom Miami Marlins jersey on Sunday at the loanDepot Park in Little Havana. Silveira threw out the ceremonial pitch before the Guardians vs. Marlins series finale.

“I think it’s every guy’s dream come true,” Silveira said.

Jonah and his family watched the game from a suite. Chewy made sure Jonah had plenty of toys and treats.

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“We wanted to add to that dream and with a bunch of hot dogs,” Kari Hinojosa, of Chewy, said.

And finally, during the fourth inning, fans watched Marlins.TV’s Jeremy Taché feed Jonah hot dogs.

“Sports is about bringing people together and doing good in this community. When you have a lightning in the bottle moment like Johan that is the first thing we thought of,” Parker said.

The Miami Marlins also promoted New Life For Paws, the nonprofit that helped Jonah. Bark at the Park benefits the Miami Animal Rescue, a foster-based nonprofit.

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