about
We’re avid tennis players and longtime committed vegans. When we realized that most tennis balls contain wool, a highly problematic material, we became alarmed. In response, we established Sheeps, an activist company on a mission to make tennis vegan.
We’re focused on raising awareness about the plight of sheep and replacing the wool in tennis balls with alternative materials that result in a cruelty-free and high-performing tennis ball suitable for competitive play.
We're presently developing Sheeps certified-vegan tennis balls. However, because the U.S. lacks capacity for tennis ball production, this effort involves complicated and time-consuming coordination with overseas companies.
Because our highest priority is reducing the suffering of sheep, and we aren’t certain when Sheeps balls will be available, we decided to assert ourselves as advocates and seek the most expeditious solution — the production of certified-vegan tennis balls by existing tennis ball companies.
And, indeed, if Wilson, Penn, Babolat, Dunlop or another company commits to exclusively producing vegan tennis balls, thereby rendering Sheeps balls unnecessary, we will gladly channel our energy into other projects like developing a biodegradable tennis ball, certified-vegan tennis shoes, and vegan gear for other sports.
Countless examples from other industries, including fashion, cars, and furniture, have demonstrated that veganism extends well beyond food and that we can be kind to animals while creating magnificent products. Sheeps believes that tennis and all sports must adopt this practice.
It’s also our conviction that the tennis industry isn’t responding adequately to climate change and that it’s crucial that tennis products become environmentally responsible.
Please share in this mission by signing the Make Tennis Vegan petition and signing up for our mailing list. If you’re interested in becoming involved as an investor or strategic partner, or if you would like to share ideas, please contact us.
About the Founder
Danny Rosenthal is a passionate tennis player, an animal welfare supporter and a 27-year vegan. In 2018, he discovered that most tennis balls contain wool and many tennis sneakers (even those without leather) contain animal products. He became distressed that while deriving immense pleasure from the sport he was also contributing to the harm of animals. Thus was born Sheeps.
In addition to guiding Sheeps, Danny is a longtime consultant to social services, social justice, environmental justice and animal welfare organizations. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn with his wife Jean, an art therapist, and their three daughters, Leah, Naomi and Simone.