As we get ready to welcome the new year, DogTipper takes a look back at some of the celebrities who gave a new lease on life to a dog or cat from a rescue organization or animal shelter in 2014:
Kevin Bridges– A stand-up guy in every sense of the word, the Scottish comedian welcomed Annabell– a 10-month-old Golden Labrador Retriever from Dogs Trust Glasgow– into his heart and home.
Dave Coulier– Known to fans of classic TV as Uncle Joey on the family-friendly 90s sitcom Full House, in 2014 the actor took on the real life role of a doting Dad to a senior dog from Community Animal Welfare Society in Salt Lake City named Shorty.
Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting– A little pup now named Ruby made a big impression of The Big Bang Theory star when she filmed a segment about pet adoption for E! News at the West Valley Animal Shelter in Chatsworth, California.
Brant Daugherty– Two stars of the hit ABC Family series Pretty Little Liars adopted rescued Rovers in 2014, with the actor who portrays Noel Kahn fixing his three-year-old, four-pawed pal Knuckles from Bull Terrier Rescue of Southern California.
Seamus and Juliana Dever– Oliver, who found his famous human family thanks to The Rescue Train, walked the walk for homeless animals with his Mom as his doting Dad co-hosted the annual fundraiser for the no-kill organization, Race for the Rescues.
We’re off to the #RacefortheRescues! Oliver is mentally preparing for his walk! http://t.co/ikSIwG6MKC pic.twitter.com/IqSuAttaln
— Juliana Dever (@CleverDever) October 18, 2014
Neil Diamond– Fans were tickled pink to learn that the music icon had adopted two of the pups who appear in his video for the single “Something Blue.” Named Melody and Bluebell by their famous father and his wife, Katie (who had made the request that the video include shelter dogs,) the cuddly canines were cared for by Colorado Animal Rescue before they found their forever home with the hit maker.
Sutton Foster– The two-time Tony Award winner who describes herself on Twitter as an ‘actress, singer, dancer, dog lover,’ won the hearts of her Fido-loving fans when she adopted a puppy named Mabel from an animal shelter in Texas.
Ariana Grande– While only time will tell if the singer will garner Grammys in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Duo/Group performance for the chart-topping single “Bang Bang,” the former star of Sam and Cat has already won the heart of her new barking buddy, Cinnamon– a five-month-old pup who was discovered in a box on the street by the rescue organization who took her in. Sharing the news with her fans on social media, the singer stated: “Now she lives with me & my other babies! She will be safe, spoiled and loves unconditionally!!!!!! absolutely shatters my heart how somebody could toss an innocent creature aside like that. nothing hurts my heart more. we love you so so much Cinnamon. welcome to the grande family my babe. #adopt”
A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on
Dec 12, 2014 at 5:42pm PST
Anne Hathaway– Months before the premiere of her sci-fi thriller Interstellar the Academy Award-winning actress gave her new four-legged friend a name that’s out of this world. The actress adopted Kenobi, a 14-week-old spaniel-terrier with the Star Wars-inspired moniker, from the L.A.-based animal rescue organization The Amanda Foundation.
Jules Knight– Acting at first as a foster to Honey, a Lab mix from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the former star of the medical drama Holby City soon cast himself as a forever pet parent to the fortunate Fido. Doggedly devoted to his barking buddy, the actor stated, “Honey can’t catch and she only retrieves about one in 20 balls we throw. But she’s the best snuggled in the world. Her specialty is love which she gives us 24/7.”
John Legend– Knowing that Penny’s love would truly be priceless, the nine-time Grammy Award winner put a song in the hearts of his Fido-loving fans when he and his wife, model Chrissy Teigen, adopted the three-legged French Bulldog from a L.A. animal shelter.
A photo posted by John Legend (@johnlegend) on
Jun 6, 2014 at 12:24pm PDT
Jane Lynch– Just days before she helped adoptable adoptables as the co-host of the Thanksgiving special Cause for Paws, the Glee star cast a rescued senior dog (a Belgian Shepherd named Gentle Ben) in the role of her new four-legged friend.
Shirley MacLaine– Over the course of her acting career she’s garnered Golden Globes, an Emmy Award and an Oscar, and in 2014 the star of the silver and small screen won the admiration of dog devotees when she adopted Trixie Harmony, a Jack Russell Terrier from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society.
Danica McKellar– Here’s wishing years of happiness for the former star of The Wonder Years and Spartacus, a two-year-old rescue dog adopted by “Winnie Cooper” shortly before the actress took on the role of official spokesperson for FIDO Friendly’s 6th annual Get Your Licks on Route 66 pet adoption tour.
A photo posted by Danica McKellar (@danicamckellar) on
Aug 8, 2014 at 10:30am PDT
Shay Mitchell– Following in the footsteps of fellow Pretty Little Liars cast member Brandt Daugherty, who adopted a Bull Terrier in April, the actress welcomed a German Shepherd mix into her life this past summer.
Olivia Munn– The actress found her barking buddy Chance thanks to Social Tees NYC and the FOX pet adoption special, Cause for Paws.
A photo posted by Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) on
Nov 11, 2014 at 9:11pm PST
Mackenzie Phillips– Knowing that one way to honor the life of a late canine companion is to offer a new lease on life to another dogs, the former One Day at a Time star– who mourned the loss of her Pug pal Freddie in July– welcomed rescue Pug puppy Franklin BanjoDog into her life in September.
Emmy Rossum– The Shameless star met Pepper, a tiny Lhasa Apso mix, while she helped to shine a spotlight on homeless dogs and cats at the NKLA Adoption Weekend event.
Melody Thomas Scott– A one-year-old Chinese Crested Terrier mix from the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter landed a coveted real life role as a canine companion to the star of The Young and The Restless when the actress and her husband (a supervising producer for The Bold and The Beautiful) paid a visit to the South Los Angeles Animal Shelter to scout for a location to shoot scenes for a pet adoption storyline.
Tania Torres– Having Rescued Renegade from a situation of neglect, the Pittie returned the favor by rescuing the Pit Bulls and Parolees star/Villalobos Rescue Center member from her sorrow after the passing of her long-time canine companion, Bluie.
Lindsey Vonn– Due to her injury she may not possess a gold medal from the 2014 winter Olympic games in Sochi, but the alpine ski racer definitely has a heart of gold! The animal-loving athlete adopted Leo– a dog with an injured knee– from Furry Friends Adoption and Clinic, a no-kill shelter in Jupiter, Florida.
Photo Credit: Juliana Dever/Twitter; Ariana Grande/Instagram; John Legend/Instagram; Danica McKellar/Instagram; Olivia Munn/Instagram