Frank Franklin II/AP
Buffalo Bills placekicker Tyler Bass reacts after missing a field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter of an NFL AFC Division playoff football game on Sunday, Jan. 21.
CNN –
A no-kill, non-profit cat adoption agency in Western New York says it has received over $150,000 in pledged donations since declaring its support for Buffalo Bills placekicker Tyler Bass, calling him a “cat dad.” has.
Ten Lives Club posted on Facebook on Monday: “WE STAND WITH TYLER BASS. Don’t bully our friend.”
The organization says Bass was criticized online after he missed a game-winning 44-yard field goal in Sunday's 27-24 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ten Lives Club, founded in 2001, called on fans to show their support for the kicker by pledging $22 in donations to the organization in Bass' name. Bass wears jersey No. 2 for the Bills.
Previously, Bass had not missed a single one of his field goal attempts in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime when his team was tied or trailing by three points or less.
Ten Lives Club knows a thing or two about bass that others may not.
As the group said on Facebook: “Tyler does not deserve the hate he is receiving. He is an outstanding soccer player and an even better person who took the time to help our organization and rescue cats last year. Leave our friend alone.”
Ten Lives Club's original post featured a picture of Bass posing with a kitten in a campaign for Show Your Soft Side. In the accompanying caption, Bass was referred to as “cat dad.”
The ad for the nonprofit read, “No wonder Tyler Bass is so quick on his feet. He’s part cat.”
CNN has reached out to Bass and the Bills.
As of Tuesday evening, Ten Lives Club had raised more than $155,000 through Facebook, its website, Venmo and a $5,000 donation from Tito's Handmade Vodka, the club's public relations manager, Kimberly LaRussa, told CNN in an email. Email with.
“Donations are coming in from football fans of all kinds — the Chiefs, the Steelers, even the Dolphins,” LaRussa said.
One post said, “I'm a born and raised Bears fan, but I've donated to A LOT of Bills fans in my life – happily, happily!”
Another donor said: “Chiefs fan here. Feel free to donate!”
LaRussa told CNN affiliate WKBW on Tuesday that she hopes people realize that Bass – and life – is about more than just football.
“He’s human, he’s a person, we all have feelings. I know people in Western New York are very passionate about football, but you also have to think about him as a person and the person he is,” she told WKBW.
“He is an excellent football player and also an excellent person.”