ANIMAL welfare is a big part of Rhys Stanley’s life.

He and girlfriend Hannah, who have been involved with a dog rescue organisation Pugs SOS for a few years, recently reached out to assist another four-legged friend in desperate need of a new home.

“We got him from down in Echuca,” Rhys says of his horse Elliot.

“There are a lot of ex-racers and ex-trotters who have finished up their careers and need new homes.”

The 12-year-old horse was identified through an organisation called Horses at Auction, a small group of volunteers who attend horse auction sales that aims to give horses a second chance.

Heading out to the paddock to look after Elliot allows Rhys to  escape the pressures of AFL footy.

“We try to come out every day to feed him, rain, hail or shine and we’ve set little goals for him right away.

“He has had some experience with people but somewhere along the way it has gone south so now we’ve managed to bring him out I suppose.”

Rhys is the latest AFL player to appear in Channel 7’s @Home segment, which supports the AFL player charity, Ladder.

“As a player I’m proud to support Ladder and their work in youth homeless, to give the youth of Australia a chance to achieve their dreams and aspirations.”

St Kilda is committed to tackling homelessness, with players visiting Sacred Heart Mission this month during Homeless Persons’ Week to shed light on the issue.