Ever wonder what Jessica Pegula would be doing if she wasn’t dominating on the tennis court? As a child, she was fascinated by dogs, learning everything she could about different breeds. This passion extended to animals in general, and at one point, she even considered becoming a veterinarian. Pegula’s bond with her pets-Maddie, Tucker, and Dexter-is well-known, and after winning the 2023 Canadian Open, she touchingly dedicated her victory to her late dog, Dex. “This one’s for you Dex, thanks for looking out for me down here 🤍 🐺,” she wrote. Losing him was clearly heartbreaking for her, and she’s since become even more passionate about animal health. She has proved this with her recent partnership!

On Tuesday, Jessica Pegula teamed up with Maev, the fastest-growing pet brand in the U.S. Known for its human-grade, raw dog food, Maev aligns perfectly with her belief in premium pet nutrition. The American tennis star shared the news on Instagram, saying, “Really excited to partner with @meetmaev in all seriousness after Dex passed away from cancer we switched to raw immediately for the other pups. Have noticed a big change in their breath and we feed them significantly more now and their weight is down!”

This partnership isn’t just about promotion—it’s personal. “I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact nutrition has on a dog’s health. One of my dogs struggled with health issues, and I tried everything to help,” Pegula revealed to Sports Illustrated’s Serve On SI. 

“Years ago, I even started making my own raw food because I knew it was better for them, but it was time-consuming, and I couldn’t keep up with it. After losing a dog, it became even more clear to me—why would I cut corners on something so important to their overall health and longevity? I spent a lot of time researching different options and found Maev. It’s unlike any other pet food on the market. It’s raw, and it’s the only human-grade option in the raw space.”

Jessica Pegula and her husband, Taylor Gahagen, have two other dogs—a chocolate Labrador named Tucker and an Australian Shepherd named Maddie. Their wedding in October 2021 was a true reflection of their love for animals, with all three dogs being part of the celebration.

Their shared passion for dogs led them to create something bigger than just a home full of pets.

Jessica Pegula and her husband run a charity for rescue animals

Together, Jessica Pegula and her husband Taylor Gahagen founded ‘A Lending Paw’, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing and training service dogs for people in need. The World No.5 once explained their mission, saying, “We wanted to help people afford service dogs. Not only is that about dogs helping people, it’s about people helping dogs, because we only work with rescues. It goes both ways.”

The organization works on two levels—helping individuals find trained service dogs while giving rescue animals a second chance at life. It’s a win-win situation for both humans and their four-legged companions. The American tennis player’s commitment to this cause even made its way onto the tennis court.

At the 2023 US Open’s Stars of the Open exhibition match, she was seen with a service dog named Ace. Ace was a yellow-labrador who joined the 30-year-old tennis player on all her pre-season activities. The well-behaved pup was part of a training program called K9 for Warriors which provides training dogs to war veterans suffering from PTSD. Pegula took pride in being part of his journey.

For Jessica Pegula, tennis may be her profession, but animal welfare is her passion. Her love for dogs goes beyond simple companionship—it’s a lifelong commitment. Who knew that a top-ranked tennis star could also be a champion for rescue dogs?