Celebrities Who Chose the Option of Pet Adoption in 2012

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As we get ready to say good-bye to 2012, here’s a look at some of the stars who said “Hello!” to a new furry family member this past year.  Following are a few of the stars who chose to adopt a dog or cat from a shelter, rescue or save a precious soul from the streets:

Pamela Anderson— Rescued from a construction site in Mumbai, a homeless puppy named Pyari (which means “loved one”) now has a starring role in the life of the former Baywatch star.

Peter Andre—  The British musician/reality TV personality, who hosted Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Collars and Coats Gala Ball in 2011, adopted a precocious Pug puppy named Charlie from the renowned rescue organization in February.

David Arquette— During the Thanksgiving holiday the Scream star was grateful to Last Day Dog Rescue in Livonia, Michigan for saving his new four-legged friend, a Basset Hound named Dallas, who was facing his final hours in a high-kill shelter just two weeks before being adopted by the actor.

Drew Barrymore— The star’s baby daughter Olive has a four-legged friend in Oliver, a Shepherd mix who– along with his siblings– was found in a box abandoned outside of the East Valley Shelter in Los Angeles. Rescued by Bark n’ Bitches, an all rescue pet shop in Hollywood, the pup was placed with a famous foster– Twilight star Nikki Reed– before meeting his new movie star Mom.

Marc Bouwer— Knowing that compassion is always in fashion, following the passing of his beloved Yorkshire Terrier Goliath the designer chose the option of adoption when searching for a new four-pawed pal. Thanks to North Shore Animal League America Bouwer found his fashion-forward Fido Tallulah, a Maltese who was one of a litter of pups from a mother who had been saved from a life as a puppy mill breeding dog.

Sophia Bush— Her sitcom Partners may have been cancelled this year, but the ‘partner’ship between the former One Tree Hill star and her four-pawed pal will last for years. Already a proud pet parent to two Pitties, in June the actress introduced fans to Griffin, a seven-week-old Pit Bull who was facing his fate at a kill shelter before he was pulled by the Pit Bull rescue Wags and Walks.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall— Abandoned in a park, her first weeks of life may have been rough, but today a tiny Jack Russell Terrier is treated like a queen thanks to her royal pet parent. The wife of Prince Charles adopted little Bluebell from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, where she had also found Beth, the Jack Russell Terrier who was welcomed into the British royal family in 2011.

Chris Colfer— The Glee star gave fans something to sing about when he adopted his “Roomie” Brian– an eight-year-old tabby cat who was waiting for a forever friend at the West Valley Animal Shelter in Chatsworth, California. Taking the opportunity to spread the word about the option of adoption, the actor Tweeted: “It was heartbreaking to see so many sweet animals needing homes. Please think about rescuing!”

Lauren Conrad— The former star of The Hills started a new chapter in her life in 2012 not only with the release of two novels, but also by welcoming a shelter puppy named Fitz into her fur family.

Miley Cyrus— The paparazzi magnet welcomed two pups into her pack this year. Happy, a Rottweiler/Beagle who was abandoned along with his litter mates in a cardboard box outside of a Walmart, was rescued by Saving Spot! Dog Rescue, the same organization which helped Mary Jane find her forever home with the former Disney Channel darling.

Noah Cyrus— Following in the compassionate footsteps of her famous sibling, Miley’s younger sister adopted a pup dubbed Penny Lane from Saving Spot! Dog Rescue.

Doris Day— The Hollywood icon shared her not so “Secret Love” for her rescue puppy with fans earlier this year. The animal-loving luminary who climbed the UK charts with her latest album “My Heart” has opened her heart and home to a poodle/terrier named Squirrely Jackson, who was adopted by the star from the SPCA for Monterey County.

Jenna Elfman— The former Dharma and Greg star took on the role of pet parent in May 2012 when she adopted a two-month-old Spaniel mix from L.A. Animal Rescue. Girly, as the actress named her, was pulled by the rescue from West Valley Animal Shelter along with her mother and siblings two days after the puppies’ birth.

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone– The Amazing Spider-Man and his real life co-star are super heroes in the eyes of animal lovers after adopting a two-year-old Golden Retriever. The high-profile pair first fostered their new four-legged pal before adopting from Saving Spot! Los Angeles, which had saved the day by pulling the dog from a kill shelter in Downey, California.

Derek Hough— Dog devotees were dancing with joy when the Dancing with the Stars hoofer confessed that he transformed from a foster doggie Dad into a full-time father for a Fido he dubbed Romey.

Josh Hutcherson– The Hungers Games has landed in first place on many top 10 movie lists of 2012, and the actor who portrays Peeta in the popular film franchise holds the number one spot in the hearts of dog devotees for adopting a three-month-old Pit Bull who had healed from a broken femur and the loss of a few toes with help from Hands Paws Hearts in Lancaster, California, which had pulled the pup from Downey Animal Shelter.

Carrie Ann Inaba– Peanut, a Chihuahua from Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles, waltzed away with the heart of the Dancing with the Stars judge back in March. In the following clip the charismatic choreographer talks about all of her fur babies and her recently launched fund, The Carrie Ann Inaba Animal Project:

Billy Joel— The Piano Man is singing the praises of North Shore Animal League America after adopting Rosie, a four-year-old Pug who was rescued from a puppy mill. In gratitude to the world’s largest animal rescue and adoption organization, the pop icon stepped in front of the camera with his canine companion to urge others to choose the option of adoption.

Tommy Lee— Bowie, a Chiweenie from East Valley Animal Shelter in Van Nuys, California, has a “Home Sweet Home” thanks to the Motley Crue drummer, who adopted him on National Puppy Day.

Harvey Levin— He may dish gossip about the glitterati each day on his syndicated show, but this spring TMZ‘s top dog became the news when he announced that he was a new pet parent to a rescue terrier/dachshund named Carter.

Derek Martin— The actor, who portrayed cabbie Charlie Slater in the long-running British soap EastEnders, drove a 2-year-old Labrador Retriever mix named Bernadette from Dogs Trust Harefield to her forever home with the star earlier this year.

Kevin McHale— Dog devotees had a song in their hearts when they heard the happy news that McHale, who stars as Artie Abrams on the hit Fox series Glee, had adopted a Wheaten Terrier mix named Sophie from Bark n’ Bitches in Los Angeles. Urging others to adopts instead of shop for a canine or cat companion, the actor posed in an ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals with his new pal:

Jenna Morasca and Ethan Zohn— Bobbi-Ricki, a five-year-old Pit Bull/Mastiff from Dog Habitat Rescue in Brooklyn, New York, went from being the Survivor stars’ foster Fido to a permanent member of their fur family in 2012.

Paul O’Grady– Not only has the presenter of the seven-part series Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs become a new celebrity ambassador for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home this year, he is also a new doting Dad to Eddie, a Chihuahua mix who was born by emergency C-section at the renowned animal welfare charity.

Denise Richards— After the devastation of hurricane Sandy a little Lab now known as Lily has a new lease on life thanks to the Wild Things star. The actress welcomed the pup into her fur family in November after a visit to promote the option of adoption at North Shore Animal League America in Long Island, New York.

LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian— Eveie, a pup who was found roaming in L.A. traffic, is living on easy street with her new high-profile pet parents.

Al Roker— The forecast certainly looks sunny for Pepper, a 10-week-old pup who was adopted from Main Line Animal Rescue in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania by Today‘s weatherman. A pal to those with paws, Al Roker Entertainment produced the Animal Planet series Last Chance Highway and the NBC special Annie’s Search for Sandy.

Mickey Rourke— While filming the thriller Dead in Tombstone on location in Romania, the Golden Globe winner offered a new life to Foxy, a stray who had sauntered on to his movie set.

Prunella Scales— As Sybil, hotel proprietor Basil Fawlty’s wife on the classic Britcom Fawlty Towers, she offered guests temporary lodging, but in real life the actress and her husband Timothy West offered permanent accommodation to a cat in need earlier this year. The famous friends of felines welcomed Hannah, an 18-month-old mixed breed from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, into their home after the cat’s previous guardian became too ill to care for her.

Sherri Shepherd— A three-year-old Lab from Baker Street Rescue in Charleston, Tennessee is enjoying The View of life as part of a forever family thanks to the daytime chat fest co-host.

Torrey Smith— The Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver, who posed with his Pit Bull Prince for a campaign that tackles the topic of animal abuse, scored a touchdown with dog devotees in September when he adopted Mama, a Pittie puppy from the Baltimore Animal Care and Rescue Shelter (BARCS).

Rumer Willis— The former 90210 star offered a permanent address to Blue, an abandoned pup whose sibling Happy found a forever home with Miley Cyrus.

Photo Credit: Last Day Dog Rescue; PETA; Battersea Dogs & Cats Home