Stray dogs trained to be ball boys at Brazil Open

You know it’s a slow day when this makes the news wires…

Sao Paulo shelter dogs have been trained to be tennis ball boys, or ball dogs, for the Brazil Open.

The four strays made their debut retrieving balls during an exhibition match wearing traditional neck wraps and orange sweatbands on their paws.

Although the ball-crazy pups were more than happy to chase the green balls they weren’t as keen to drop them.

Trainer Andrea Beckert said the initiative was to promote adoption of street animals and to help them adapt and interact better with humans.

“These are dogs that were mistreated … Some are doing well, others are still a little scared.”