Before we say good-bye to 2013, here’s a look back at some of the celebrities who said “Hello!” to a new adorable adoptable shelter or rescue dog, or a Spot saved from the streets, this past year:
A rescue puppy can now picture a life filled with happiness thanks to famed photographer Nigel Barker. The former America’s Next Top Model judge and current host of The Face, his wife and their children went to North Shore Animal League America to make Memphis– a pup rescued in Tennessee– a part of their family.
In the 60s and 70s he tickled television viewers’ funny bones in the comedy series till Death Us Do Part (the British TV show which inspired the classic US sitcom All in the Family) and today fans of actor Anthony Booth are tickled pick at the news that during the holiday season the star’s family welcomed Carol, a senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from Alexa’s Animals Dog Rescue, into their hearts and home.
Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown scored a home run in the hearts of dog devotees when he adopted a Pit Bull puppy he dubbed Wreck from Green Street Animal Rescue, a non-profit in Chester County, Pennsylvania which celebrated its first year of saving Spots in January 2013.
Love him pic.twitter.com/Qc6yTlUscE
— Domonic Brown (@dom9brown) September 2, 2013
Bravo to TV personality Andy Cohen for choosing the option of adoption! The Watch What Happens Live host found a barking buddy in Wacha, a beagle/foxhound mix saved from a kill shelter in West Virginia by See Spot Rescued, a non-profit organization in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Just days after the ball drop marked the start of the new year “Wrecking Ball” singer Miley Cyrus offered a new life to Bean, a tiny Chihuahua mix puppy from Saving SPOT! Rescue in Los Angeles.
Like her signature tune states, the future may not be ours to see, but one lucky dog’s tomorrows certainly look a lot brighter thanks to entertainment icon Doris Day. Soon to celebrate her 90th birthday, the high-profile pal to all with paws recently offered the gift of a new lease on life to Daisy, a three-month-old rescue puppy from the SPCA for Monterey County– the same non-profit organization which cared for Squirrely Jackson, the poodle/terrier who became a member of Day’s fur family in 2012.
Zooey Deschanel, star of the hit Fox series New Girl, found new furry friends Zelda and Dot thanks to The Bill Foundation, a Los Angeles-based rescue organization that has saved more than 2,000 dogs from shelters and life on the streets since its start in 2000.
Days before winning two Golden Globes, a shelter dog from Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition won the heart of Girls star Lena Dunham. Lamby’s Instagram stardom began with the following photo:
Actor David Faustino, who once shared screen time with a Briard Sheepdog who portrayed Buck Bundy in Married …with Children, offered a starring role in his home to Bella Donna, a Lab mix puppy he met at the Makeover for Mutts fundraiser for Much Love Animal Rescue.
In September Ariana Grande from the Nickelodeon series Sam & Cat announced o her Fido-loving fans that she adopted her four-pawed pal Toulouse from an animal rescue:
Rosie and Ralph, two tail-wagging chums from Spot Rescue in Los Angeles, have helped Twilight cast member Ashley Greene heal from the heartbreaking loss of a beloved member of her fur family in a tragic apartment fire:
Former Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino, who adopted a pit bull puppy named Tita from North Shore Animal League America in February, helped other homeless dogs and cats land starring roles in the lives of loving pet parents when he became a national spokesperson for the world’s largest pet adoption and rescue center’s Pet Adoption Month in May.
Earlier this past year Today co-host Hoda Kotb offered a bright tomorrow to Blake, a five-month-old Cockapoo rescued from the city pound by PAWS Chicago.
Reality star (and Angels for Animals Rescue co-founder) Joanna Krupa created a new reality for her new canine companion Darla, a puppy from the Humane Society in Miami.
Putting a song in the hearts of her doggedly devoted fans, Natalie Imbruglia adopted a Maltese she named Mr. Wilson. Once a stray wandering the streets of Los Angeles, today the pup lives on easy street thanks to Wags and Walks Rescue, a non-profit founded in 2010 which finds forever homes for L.A.-area dogs who are facing their fate in kill shelters.
Before strumming guitar strings at a concert in Florida country crooner Miranda Lambert tugged at the heartstrings of dog devotees by fulfilling a young girl’s wish for her to pay a visit to the Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Wellington. During her stay the Muttnation Foundation founder met Bellamy, one of the pups who now take center stage in her life.
In October a senior dog named Pearl became a treasured part of Glee star Lea Michele‘s fur family:
Today I would like to introduce you to Pearl. She's 8 years old and is my new little love.. Welcome Pearl! pic.twitter.com/JvY41bmwM4
— Lea Michele (@msleamichele) October 15, 2013
Fans of Fidos were tickled pink when comic actress Aubrey Plaza from the hit NBC series Parks and Recreation adopted Macy, a rescue dog who had been saved from the streets by Eldad Hagar of Hope For Paws and found a forever home with the funny lady through The Bill Foundation.
An actor with an undying love for all creatures great and small, in August The Vampire Diaries‘ Ian Somerhalder introduced fans to Nietzsche, his new four-legged leading lady. Shortly after saving the dog from traffic, the CW star took no a new role– that of ‘grandpa’ to the pretty pooch’s eight puppies.
In May of 2013 a rescue pup from North Shore Animal League America took on the role of canine co-star in the life of two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey.
Mystery solved. New member of my family. Her name is Boston in honor of the city. @animalleague RT pic.twitter.com/uCcKjcsDmc
— Kevin Spacey (@KevinSpacey) May 4, 2013
It was music to the ears of dog devotees when Annie Hart of The Bill Foundation announced that Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland had found a rocking Rover in rescue dog Orpheus, a Pit Bull mix who had been saved thanks to the combined effort of Annie and Eldad Hagar from Hope for Paws.
The Go-Go’s guitarist Jane Wiedlin fell “Head Over Heels” with miniature Border Collie mix Paul Stanley from Rocket Dog Rescue this year. A supporter of the San Francisco-based rescue organization, the musician has also helped to raise funds for the non-profit by selling signed pieces of her wardrobe.
Photo Credit: Twitter/Domonic Brown; Instagram/Zooey Deschanel, Lena Dunham, Ariana Grande, Lea Michele, Ian Somerhalder, Kevin Spacey