Photo by Jeremy Tauriac
Tank and the Bangas were nominated for Best New Artist for the 2020 Grammy Awards . More honors came when their 2022 album Red Balloon was nominated for a 2023 Grammy Award for Best Progressive R & B Album . And although Ball hankers for a pet pup to call her own — the shining star ’ s bustling schedule doesn ’ t allow for one now — she realized that fostering dogs is the ideal way to get those joyful puppy kisses she craves into her life .
“ I ’ ve always wanted a puppy ,” says Ball , who ’ s witty , charming , hilarious and possesses a limitless amount of the “ it ” factor . “ My friends know and ask me every birthday , ‘ Tank , you want a dog ?’ because I ’ m always randomly saying , and this is literally my quote : ‘ I wish I had a puppy to go home to ! Having a dog jumping up and being so excited to see you — now that ’ s just built-in love and oh , I want that !’ But then responsibility kicks in so I ’ m like , ‘ Wait a minute !’ ( Laughs .) ‘ With my lifestyle I can ’ t really commit to being a full-on dog mom .’ But one day I was walking up the street and saw a sign to come and see the dogs at Zeus ’ Rescues on Napoleon Avenue , so I went in . I always wished I could rent a pup ! What about the people who just want to be licked and hugged and give it right on back to the puppies — where ’ s that at ? Well , Zeus ’ Rescues is the perfect place for that !”
Zeus ’ Rescues — founded by homeless pet savior Michelle Ingram — is an incredibly dedicated volunteer group passionate about ensuring that animals rescued in the New Orleans metro area get adopted , and hopefully get placed with devoted foster parents while waiting to get adopted . And although Ball usually just visited the dogs at Zeus ’ for mutual mood boosting , she made a bigger commitment earlier this year and took home a little pit bull mix puppy , Cucumber , to foster . “ Michelle knows me and trusts me to foster , so that ’ s cool ,” says Ball . “ When you go into Zeus ’ you can tell the ones that really want to go home with somebody . I wanted a dog to be automatically lovin ’ on me and giving me those kisses and licks and cuddling and chilling with me .”
“ Cucumber was so smart and loving ,” says Ball . “ I could tell I gave him an experience he never had before — riding in the car home , head out the window looking at the view of the city instead of just the room he was held in . He ran into my house like he knew was home . It ’ s very special to know you gave them something that will be part of the fabric of their lives . And when I posted Cucumber online someone told me they had actually rescued him and brought him in ,” says Ball . “ They saw an older dog on their Ring Camera , the mama or whoever , drop him off on the sidewalk and just walk away ! I was like , ‘ Wow , that really is a freaking adoption story !’ Like , I ’ m literally giving up my baby to a place where they can take care of him because I clearly can ’ t . He really was a foster child , that poor baby .”
As Cucumber ’ s foster mama , Ball realized she could positively impact his life by giving him the doting attention and human interaction necessary to help him thrive before he ’ d be adopted . “ They need us so bad , like a baby does ,” says Ball . “ They need to be touched and loved on . As soon as I ’ d come home , I felt like a mom . He cried for me in his cage and I couldn ’ t take care of myself right quick ; I had to clean his cage , get his food ready and clean him off . I had to make sure he was OK ! It ’ s rewarding but it ’ s a lot of work and I do not shy away from that . If
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