Michael Phelps, along with Missy Franklin, Nate Adrian and the rest of America’s 2016 Olympics lineup got together to “dope up” on puppy love in celebration of the annual Clear the Shelters weekend.

The Clear the Shelters campaign is an annual nationwide event organized by animal shelters and rescue groups. 

• In 2015, over 20,000 pooches were adopted over the weekend. This year, the goal is to boost adoption rates to 90% (around 35k.)
• In addition to organizing promotional events and celebrity endorsements, they offer VERY limited-time price cuts (80-95% off) on pups and vaccination. One South California shelter is even giving away healthy puppies totally free of charge.
• Every single pup featured in the below photos has already found a new home. That being said, there are hundreds of others – each cuter than the last – waiting to meet their best friend at your local shelter. It’s a serious commitment, but it’s one you’ll never regret. Adopt today! 

Puppy Love, the Gateway Hug

According to the animal shelter that supplied those furry, little performance-enhancers, the photoshoot was delayed by two hours. The U.S. champs were simply a cute mess – the star athletes not only overdosed on cuddliness, but also mixed it with way too much fuzziness!

Naturally, the team’s Instagram account is now filled with hilariously adorable ‘evidence’ of alleged puppy-love abuse.

How dopey was it? Well, let’s start with Exhibit A:

Olympians Under The Influence

Nancy Reagan tried to warn them, but Phelps’ teammates found it downright impossible to “Just Say No.”
Not with these surreal puppy-dog eyes peering at them. The peer pressure was too much for them…

Okay, we’re officially out of ‘Michael Phelps/puppy/drug’ puns now (we promise), so here are some more pictures of these adorable, silly willies – a.k.a. Olympic champions.

Though these athletes may be less famous than Phelps, they’re definitely better at choosing how to de-stress on camera.

Apparently, setting 4 swimming records wasn’t enough for Swimmer Ryan Lochte, who insisted on holding two puppies throughout the photo shoot.

He later surrendered one to U.S. Tennis legend Venus Williams.

Dog person and national Track & Field champ, Justin Gatlin quickly made friends with an 8-week-old terrier.

Our personal favorites, posing next to some random humans.

Just another bad joke – who could forget our biggest contenders for Rio Olympic gold?
Here are Gabby Douglas, Alexandra Raisman, Nate Adrian and Missy Franklin.