DWTS Dancer Mark Ballas Adopts Rescue Dog

While only time will tell if the fancy footwork of Mark Ballas and dancing partner Willow Shields from The Hunger Games film franchise will help them waltz away with a win as Dancing with the Stars celebrates its 20th season, the high-profile hoofer has already won the admiration of dog devotees for choosing the option of pet adoption.

A photo posted by markballas (@markballas) on Mar 7, 2015 at 8:45pm PST

Sharing the happy news with fans via social media, the charismatic choreographer and his girlfriend (singer/songwriter BC Jean) have posted several snapshots of their new barking buddy– their former foster dog, Hendrix. Known as Sweeney during his days at Bark n’ Bitches, Hendrix is one of the many lucky dogs who have been given a new lease on life thanks to the humane pet retail shop which rescues dogs who are facing their fate in high kill shelters in Kern County, Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

A photo posted by markballas (@markballas) on Mar 10, 2015 at 7:20pm PDT

By adopting from Bark n’ Bitches, Ballas has followed in the footsteps of a fellow famous friend of Fidos– actress Drew Barrymore– who welcomed Oliver, a Shepherd mix from the rescue/retail store, into her heart and home in 2012, while another Bark n’ Bitches alum recently had the opportunity to lap up the limelight alongside Twilight star Nikki Reed in a PSA against BSL.

Photo Credit: Instagram/Mark Ballas