Before we say goodbye to 2017, let’s take a look back at a few of the famous faces who said “Hello!” to a new four-legged family member from an animal shelter or rescue organization this year.
In early 2017 Lisa Vanderpump opened the doors of her own dog adoption center, Vanderpump Dogs. As the year drew to a close the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star opened the door of her mansion for one of the center’s adorable adoptables–a Wheaten Terrier named Binky! The owner surrender was a happy addition to the reality personality’s fur family following the passing of two of her long-time canine companions, Pikachu and Pink Dog.
Not only is Lance Bass an ambassador for The Vanderpump Dog Foundation, the former NSync member is also a proud Poppa to two rescue pups from reality personality Lisa Vanderpump’s L.A.-based organization! The entertainer and his husband Michael Turchin transformed from a foster to a forever family for their fur babies, siblings Chip and Dale.
Fans of country music and canines have been singing the praises of Hunter Hayes. Not only did the performer use his star wattage to shine a light on Warrior Canine Connection in 2017, he also adopted his second rescue dog. Already a pet parent to Cole the Greyhound, this year he welcomed a whippet/beagle named Ella from Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue into his life.
She may have portrayed a villain in the box office smash Suicide Squad, but in real life Margot Robbie is a hero for choosing the option of pet adoption. Having helped her pup turn the page to a new chapter is his life, the actress dubbed her dog Boo Radley, after a character from one of the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Fifteen minutes of fame on a popular daytime chat fest led to the promise of a lifetime with a famous forever pet parent when actor Liev Schreiber met two adoptable puppies displaced by Hurricane Harvey on the set of Live with Kelly and Ryan. The pups’ new leash on life was made possible by Home for Good Dog Rescue.
Two time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank fostered two pups from Louie’s Legacy Animal Rescue this year, and the movie star is now Mom to Sufi, one of the Golden Retriever mix dogs. (The Million Dollar Baby star also helped pets and people in need through The Hilaroo Foundation, which was named in part after her late rescue dog, Rumi.)
Named Best New Artist at the 2017 VMAs, R&B singer Khalid found a new furry friend in a rescued Pit Bull puppy called Roxy! Adopted from Bark n’ Bitches (L.A.’s first humane pet shop), the platinum-selling performer with a heart of gold thanked L.A.’s first humane pet shop for “allowing me to save a life!”
Inspired by his love for his new barking buddy, the “Location” singer will use his upcoming Roxy Tour to put a song in the hearts of animal lovers from coast to coast, as a donation will be made to a local animal shelter with every ticket sale!
Related page: Check out the stars who made 2017’s sweltering season a “Summer of Love” by choosing the option of pet adoption! (The Walking Dead‘s Jon Bernthal, Poldark cast member Beatie Edney, supermodel Stella Maxwell, Dreamgirls star Sheryl Lee Ralph, actress Olivia Wilde and more!)
Not only did Philadelphia Phillies’ catcher Cameron Rupp pitch the option of adoption by hosting the first ever Ruppapalooza fundraiser for the Pennsylvania SPCA in 2017, this year the sports star also stepped up to the plate to adopt Lola, a 2-year-old Cane Corso who was found hog-tied outside of the Pennsylvania SPCA headquarters..
During the past 365 days, actress Selma Blair cast two cuddly canines in the roles of her real life furry family members! When the star’s dog Ducky crossed Rainbow Bridge in August, the star wrote on her Instagram tribute to her tail-wagging chum: “Please send us our next dog. With the spirit of you and wink. Our hearts are broken.” Helping her family to heal after their loss, one month after saying goodbye to Ducky they said hello to Cappuccino Houston (aka Cappy), who entered the Blair brood’s lives thanks to Angel City Pits, Best Friends Animal Society and NKLA. By year’s end Cappy had a new sibling in Buster, a pup from A Purposeful Rescue.
Actor John O’Hurley, who announces the “top dog” each year as as a commentator of The National Dog Show, adopted a pup who won his heart in 2017. The Seinfeld alum met three-month-old Norfolk Terrier mix Janelle when the star took part in the celebration of the Best Buddy Adoption Center and Animal Medical Center of Mid-America’s grand opening at The Humane Society of Missouri.
Already a proud pet parent to two dogs, RuPaul’s Drag Race judge Ross Mathews (who first gained fame an the intern on The Tonight Show) welcomed three-year-old Chihuahua Selena Francisca Camarena Mathews into his life in 2017. The TV personality, who adopted his new fur baby from the L.A. rescue Wags and Walks, also helped dogs and cats at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter by winning $25,000 for the facility as a contestant on Celebrity Family Feud!
An ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home since 2012, this year international male model David Gandy also took on the title of pet parent to a pup from the renowned animal charity. Aptly dubbed Dora the Explorer, since becoming a part of the fashion icon’s fur family the pup has joined her Pop at the Muddy Dog Challenge obstacle course (see below) to raise funds for the non-profit which had cared for her, and stepped out on the red carpet with Gandy at Battersea Dogs and Cat’s Home’s annual Collars & Coats Ball. Speaking about his new canine companion. Gandy stated that Dora “…has become a special part of the family and I couldn’t imagine life without her. I’m so grateful to Battersea for the support they gave her.”
Rescue dog Miss Thunder Boom Boom Chenoweth (aka Thunder Pup) made her onscreen debut with her new Tony and Emmy Award-winning Mom Kristin Chenoweth in a promotional video for Remember Me Thursday, Helen Woodward Animal Center’s annual day to pay tribute to the tail-wagging chums we have lost and raise awareness of shelter animals who are waiting in the wings for that day when they can take center stage in the life a pet parent. Thunder Pup was cast in the real life role of the star’s fur baby after Chenoweth’s beloved Maltese, Madeline Kahn Chenoweth, crossed Rainbow Bridge in August 2017.
Acting as a temporary foster parent for two puppies from the L.A. rescue organization Hope for Paws lead to a permanent role as a forever pet parent for Orange is the New Black star Adrienne C. Moore. Little Lola and Mowgli have been preparing for important roles of their own as they learn the skills they need to be therapy dogs. The actress stated in an interview with The Humane Society of the United States that her fur babies seemed to realize that she was sad when thoughts of her recently departed father made her cry, and the pair helped to lighten her mood by licking her tears away. Moore hopes that her canine companions can also give comfort to patients in hospice care centers.
In an Instagram post the star stated: “The babies love their mama and mama LOVES her babies. My life has been forever changed for the good because of them. Adopting rescue dogs is so easy….I want to encourage all of you who have been thinking about getting a dog, but not quite sure yet, to consider a shelter dog. They’ve been displaced and could use a good home…and a great cuddle.”
A North Shore Animal League America ambassador, Good Morning America presenter Lara Spencer ‘got her rescue on’ this year when she adopted her pup Lucy from the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization.
2017 may have brought the end of her days playing Elena on the hit CW series The Vampire Diaries, but this past year also marked the start of actress Nina Dobrev‘s real life role as a pet parent to a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd pup dubbed Maverick! Nine weeks old when she first met her new Mom, today Maverick– who was adopted from the Los Angeles animal rescue organization The Pet Care Foundation— has fans of her own thanks to her very own Instagram account.
Thanks to Younger‘s Hilary Duff, who starred in A Cinderella Story back in 2004, a pup from an unwanted litter is now living “happily ever after.” Called Mojito during his days at Love Leo Rescue in Los Angeles, the charming ‘chug’ (a Chihuahua/Pug mix)–who was the runt among his now adopted siblings Daiquiri, Mimosa and Pina Colada– is now known as Momo.
When Dierks Bentley lost his beloved 15-year-old canine companion Jake (a one-time shelter dog) to cancer in 2016 the singer said that his late barking buddy would be his last dog. Although Jake “Can’t Be Replaced” in the country crooner’s life, the chart-topper has made a place in his heart and home for two rescue dogs since is four-pawed pal’s passing. In March 2017 a pup dubbed Patch Adams joined George and Emmylou Hoo (who was adopted in the fall of 2016) as a member of the Bentley brood. The chart-topper’s family found their new furry family member at Nashville Humane Association.
To Sage, a Pit Bull who was pound bound, it seems as though life had thrown her a curve ball. However, thanks to one re-Tweet which pitched the option of pet adoption Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers (already a pet parent to five Fidos) stepped up to the plate and made the pup a MVP (Most Valuable Pet) in his heart and home.
This year Mekayla Eppers won both the title of Mrs. America 2018 and the admiration of animal lovers for choosing the option of pet adoption. Proving that pretty is as pretty does, the beauty pageant queen welcomed Harry– a five-month-old Beagle/Staffordshire Bull Terrier– into her heart and home. The future Mrs. World contestant found her new furry family member at Kent County Animal Shelter in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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