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David Backes is dog’s best friend

Detroit Red Wings v St. Louis Blues

ST. LOUIS, MO - DECEMBER 6: David Backes #42 of the St. Louis Blues celebrates his goal against the Detroit Red Wings at the Scottrade Center on December 6, 2011 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues beat the Red Wings 3-2. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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Have your heartstrings been pulled yet today? They’re about to.

Blues forward David Backes loves animals. He also loves flying planes. Mixing these two passions together turns into a story that would melt even the iciest of cold hearts as Backes and his wife Kelly flew from St. Louis to Houston to pick up three stray dogs. When asked if he ever thought he’d be flying dogs in a plane, Backes told Fox 2 in St. Louis the straight word.

“I did not,” said with a smile, “but (it’s) pretty rewarding to see how happy these guys are to be here, and probably happy just to be out of that plane.”

Backes and his wife did this to get the dogs to the no-kill shelter she works for near St. Louis. We can already hear the swooning across the hockey world for what a cool thing this was for Backes to do in his spare time. Backes not getting named to the All-Star Game in this case paid off nicely for three fortunate dogs.

Now if Backes can get the Blues deep into the playoffs and perhaps with the Blues’ first Stanley Cup, he could be the mayor of St. Louis for life.