10+ Celebrities Who Rescued Animals Through Thick and Thin

Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. But out of this huge number of animals, only a small number have found their precious forever homes. Without hesitation, celebrities have taken some of them home and they are now a big part of their lives.

Bright Side has a list of 10+ celebrities that you’ll definitely appreciate for their unconditional love for animals.

1. Ian Somerhalder

Ian Somerhalder rescued Nietzsche, a Pitbull who was running in traffic near their set of The Vampire Diaries. After saving the dog, he decided to keep her. It wasn’t too long until Nietzsche gave birth to and raised 5 puppies, that have also found their forever homes.

It’s not just Nietzsche that he saved, he is also raising funds and awareness to protect animals using his own foundation.

2. Chris Evans

Chris Evans has a big heart for his co-star Dodger, who he first met while filming the movie Gifted. He shared that he thought he was one of the working dogs when they were filming the last scene in a pound, but realized that they were all up for adoption."

It was love at very first sight for Chris Evans and he was more than sure that Dodger was destined to be his precious canine companion.

3. Lea Michele

Lea also went on a rescue mission for animals when she found 6 stray kittens on the Paramount Studios lot and saved them. She then gave 4 of the kittens to her co-workers from the show and kept 2 for herself, who she named Claude and Sheila.

She also shared that during her shoot in Long Beach, California, she found a dog tied to a fence and immediately took the dog to a vet.

4. George Clooney

George and Amal Clooney rescued their basset hound Millie from the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society — she was found scrounging for food scraps outside of a restaurant.

“Millie found her forever home and the Clooneys have a new best friend,” the shelter’s social media coordinator said.

5. Amanda Seyfried

Amanda has the sweetest love for her rescue dog, Finn. “As soon as he was mine, like 24 hours after I got him, I realized something about me needed him,” Seyfried, 33, told PEOPLE. “He completely changed my life and helped me find my solitude and my independence. When you have a lifestyle like I did when I was in my early twenties, there were no constants. It was just hard to know where I was going to be the next month because of my career,” she continued. “That’s why I got him.”

Her love for animals didn’t stop with Finn, she also teamed up with an animal welfare organization to participate in an event called Strutt Your Mutt.

6. Zac Efron

Zac Efron rescued this adorable pitbull, who was moments away from being euthanized. Zac applied initially to foster Maca, but fell madly in love with her. She was saved from a kill shelter by LA’s first humane pet shop.

7. Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande adopted her dog, Toulouse, from an animal shelter. Grande was crying tears of joy when she got Toulouse. The cute guy has become one of the biggest parts of Grande’s life and has appeared in Grande’s various music videos, VOGUE magazine, and has even modeled for Coach.

8. Ellen DeGeneres

Ellen has raised the stage for rescuing animals and kindness in general. She focuses on the many shelter animals that need homes through The Ellen Fund.

’’I wish we lived in a world where caring for animals wasn’t so rare that it deserved an award. All I do is treat animals with the respect and dignity they deserve. I hope someday soon, everyone does the same," said DeGeneres.

9. Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen adopted this beagle-foxhound mix, named Wacha, from a shelter in New Jersey. Wacha originally came from a kill shelter in West Virginia.

“There are so many great dogs available who need homes, so why buy a dog when you can help save one?” said Cohen.

10. Drew Barrymore

Barrymore rescued 9 foster dogs who put a smile on her face no matter how tough life is. “Life is better with dogs. Life is definitely better with rescue dogs,” she shared.

11. Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds was just looking for a dog for his friend at a Houston animal shelter when he suddenly rescued Baxter. “I saw this big, dumb-looking retriever staring up at me,” he said in an interview.

“I whispered to him, ‘Hey, let’s get out of here.’ And he jumped up, like he spoke English fluently. He came with me, he jumped in the car, and we’ve been best buddies ever since.”

Can you name a celebrity that has a huge heart for animals? Have you also adopted animals from shelters? We would be really glad to hear from you in the comments!