The love of an animal is unmatched, and these celebrities know that. Here's a list of celebrities who rescued their precious pups, kittens, and even more types of animals. They truly inspire us!
Zac Efron
We're all in this together once sang the cast of High School Musical. Zac Efron took that sentiment into his life. He adopted an adorable dog, which he named MACA, and saved her from being euthanized.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever actor introduced his new pup on Instagram with a photo of the two of them and wrote the following caption, "Hey planet, this is MACA. #adoptdontshop." Efron adopted her from an LA-based humane pet shop in 2018, and they've been BFFs ever since.
Justin Theroux
A champion of rescuing pets is actor Justin Theroux. His rescued companion, Kuma, is one of his best friends. The pit bull is constantly featured on his Instagram. From dinner pics all dressed up together to hanging out by the beach, they do everything together.
When speaking to PEOPLE magazine about his rescue pet, he said his favorite thing is "waking up with her." He continued, "She fully puts her head off the pillows, I mean she sleeps like people. And it's really nice to wake up in the morning and have her right there with you."
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus's pets came into her heart like a wrecking ball. The singer has had many pets over the years, ranging from cats and dogs to fish and pigs. After her pit mix, Mary Jane, passed away, she welcomed another dog into her life and named her Angel.
Cyrus wrote about Angel on her Instagram: "It breaks my heart to know Angel was sleeping on concrete in a shelter for three months before finally making it home. The stigma and stereotype that surrounds pit bulls tears me in two." The Flowers singer also owns a Shetland sheepdog named Emu and a shepherd mix named Bo Cyrus.
Jon Hamm
There are no "mad men" over here! Because actor Jon Hamm welcomed his beloved rescue dog, Splash, into his life. The rescue organization that saved Splash from a shelter wrote about the pup, "He was returned twice at the shelter because of his puppy energy. We rescued him and found him the best home."
They continued, "He lives a fairy tale life now. Happy adoption Splash. We are over the moon for you." This isn't the first dog that Hamm rescued, either. He also saved a German shepherd mix, Cora, who passed away in 2017. Hamm told The New York Times, "Cora was the best."
Camila Mendes
Luckily, Cami Mendes has the perfect companion to get her through life. In November 2019, Mendes rescued a puppy from the Labelle Foundation in LA. She wrote on Instagram, "this is truffle. she's a maltipoo rescue. and i am officially a dog mom. big shoutout to @thelabellefoundation for bringing this angel into my life."
Since then, the pair have been best friends. Truffle is constantly featured in the Riverdale actress's social media. The paparazzi also love Truffle, often snapping pics of the pup when she's on walks with her mom. Mendes also encouraged her fans to try fostering pets and help out furry friends in need.
Jonah Hill
Hopefully, Fig the dog won't be a "superbad" pup for his owner, Jonah Hill. With a face like that, how could he be?! The 21 Jump Street actor rescued the pit bull when she was abandoned at a rural shelter during the holidays. Love Leo Rescue helped to find her a new home with Hill.
Hill was over the moon with the latest addition to his family. He wrote on his since-deleted Instagram, "Thank you so much @loveleorescue you gave me a massive gift and I appreciate you and the work you and your foster parent volunteers do." Every dog needs a bit of McLovin.
Kyle Chandler
Anyone who has fostered a dog knows that sometimes it is hard to resist the urge to adopt, and that is exactly what happened to Friday Night Lights actor Kyle Chandler and his wife, Kathryn. They went into Austin Pets Alive, hoping to find a dog to foster. Instead, they ended up adopting Clive.
Austin Pets Alive wrote on their Insta, "Actor Kyle Chandler and his wife Kathryn stopped by yesterday with the intention of fostering a dog. Little Clive stole their hearts and they decided to adopt instead! This is not the first APA! dog the Chandler family has adopted, and we thank them for their continued support."
Dan Levy
In January 2022, Dan Levy shared that his best friend, Redmond, had passed away. Redmond was a rescue dog who was mistreated and abandoned. Levy ended up rescuing the dog when he was four years old. In an Instagram post, the Schitt's Creek actor said, "Finding him was the greatest thing that ever happened to me."
He continued, "If you are looking for a pet, first make sure you've thought it through and that you have the means to care for them properly, THEN please please please consider adopting. There are so many animals just waiting for a better life. #cleartheshelters." Levy still posts about rescuing, encouraging his fans to adopt.
Amanda Seyfried
Mamma Mia, Amanda Seyfried has a lot of animals. She has ponies, horses, goats, donkeys, chickens, a cat, and her rescue pup, Finn. She met the Australian Shepherd on the set of the HBO show Big Love. She told PEOPLE, "He completely changed my life and helped me find my solitude and my independence."
Since his adoption, the pair have been inseparable. They go on hikes, work on set, nap together, and so much more. Seyfried is a strong advocate for rescuing pets and has even teamed up with the Best Friends Animal Society to help spread awareness about rescuing pets through their event, Strut Your Mutt.
Chris Evans
This Avenger took a break from saving the world to help save a pup. While filming the movie Gifted, Chris Evans fell in love with Dodger. He told PEOPLE, "One of the last scenes we were filming was in a pound... I foolishly walked in and I thought, 'Are these actor dogs or are these real up for adoption dogs?'"
He continued, "And sure enough they were, so I was walking up and down the aisles and saw this one dude and he didn't belong there. I snagged him and he's such a good dog." Dodger has become Evans' loyal companion ever since, even accompanying him during interviews. It was love at first sight!
Liev Schrieber
This cute pup here belongs to actor Liev Schrieber. The Ray Donovan actor is no stranger to the phrase adopt, don't shop. Schrieber rescued two dogs who survived Hurricane Harvey after meeting them backstage on Live with Kelly and Ryan. He couldn't help but want to take them home with him!
Unfortunately, one of the dogs, Woody, was hit by a car and didn't make it. Schreiber had to say goodbye to his companion, Woody, but he welcomed a new canine addition to the household. He introduced the world to Scout on his Instagram. Another rescue dog captured the actor's heart.
Nina Dobrev
Maverick is one lucky dog, or better yet, Nina Dobrev is an extremely fortunate owner. Maverick was staying at The Pet Care Foundation, which is a non-profit animal rescue operating in Los Angeles. Then, Dobrev fell in love and adopted the dog, which is believed to be a half Border Collie and half Australian Shepherd mix.
While she is a prominent feature in Dobrev's social media, Maverick has her own Instagram account with over 400k followers. She loves going on long walks, hanging out with her other furry friends, and snuggling with Nina and her boyfriend, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White.
Lisa Vanderpump
While she is known for being one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the owner of LA landmark restaurants like Pump and SUR, Lisa Vanderpump also has another love - animals. She has swans, peacocks, turtles, koi fish, mini horses, and a retired racehorse living on her Beverly Hills property.
That doesn't even include her dogs! She currently has five rescue dogs. One of Lisa's most famous pups, Giggy, who is pictured above, passed away in 2020. Lisa's love for animals even extended beyond her own home. Ever the entrepreneur, Vanderpump opened her own non-profit rescue, Vanderpump Dogs.
Gerard Butler
While he is known for being a tough guy, Gerard Butler has a heart made of gold. The Olympus Has Fallen actor couldn't help but fall for a four-legged creature. While filming in Bulgaria, he met a stray dog and took her home. He named her Shushka, and they quickly became best friends.
He introduced her to his fans via Instagram. He snapped a photo of them snuggling on the couch and wrote the caption, "Thankful for a new wee doggie in my life. She was a stray while I was filming up a mountain in Bulgaria. Stole my heart." This photo of them has stolen our hearts!
Chelsea Handler
Comedian Chelsea Handler has been making people laugh for decades, and by her side has always been a furry friend. Handler first adopted Chunk, a German shepherd-Chow mix, from a kill shelter in 2009. Chunk was nine years old at the time, and he became an instant celebrity.
Handler also rescued a dog named Tammy. When Tammy and Chunk unfortunately passed away, Handler was devastated. Except, she knew what to do next. She rescued two more pups, Bert and Bernice. Both are Chow Chow mixes and have become fixtures in the comedian's social media.
Hilary Duff
Saying goodbye is much harder than anything else in the world. Actress Hilary Duff has learned that over and over again. She has had to say goodbye to many of her furry friends over the years. She had to part ways with her Yorkie Jak, Bernese mountain dog Dubie, French bulldog Beau, and Chihuahuas Lola and Coco.
However, the former Lizzie McGuire star didn't let the difficulties of losing loved ones get her down. She continued to love and adopt more pets. In 2017, she welcomed Momo into her family from Love Leo Rescue. She returned to the same rescue and adopted an older dog a year later.
Selena Gomez
They say dogs are man's best friend, but what about women?! They are women's best friends, as well. Singer Selena Gomez proves that with her two pups, Daisy and Winnie. She adopted her first pup, Winnie, in April 2019. Then, when the world was in lockdown, Selena shared some happy news with her fans during an Instagram Live.
She said to those watching, "Winnie is here and I would like to introduce my new family member Daisy!" The dog mom gave a status update, "Winnie and Daisy are getting along very well." Both dogs are adorable and have become stars of the Same Old Love singer's social media.
John Travolta
This adoption story was made for the movies. At the 2022 Oscars, Jamie Lee Curtis held a puppy as she honored the late Betty White. She ended her speech by saying, "The greatest gift you could give Betty White is to open your heart and your home and adopt a rescue dog just like Mac N Cheese from Paw Works."
Actor John Travolta called up the organization the next day and adopted the dog with his son, Ben. Several actors wanted to take Mac N Cheese home, but it was the Grease actor that held her for 30 minutes and followed up the next day, per PEOPLE. We love a happy ending.
Ariana Grande
Thank U Next singer Ariana Grande knows the importance of adopting over shopping. She has adopted ten rescue animals, including an emotional support pig, Piggy Smalls. Her pup Toulouse was adopted from an animal shelter and now travels around the world with the star.
He's not the only furry friend in her life, either. Grande also is a mom to several other pups, including Lafayette the Bloodhound and Sirius the poodle mix. She opened an animal shelter called Orange Twins Rescue to help other pets in need. Ariana is a certified animal lover!
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston knows what it means to be there for someone when the rain starts to pour, and that's what she does for her friends, especially her canine ones. The Friends alum already owned Clyde and pit bull Sophie when she extended her heart and home to a pup named Lord Chesterfield.
On Instagram, she gave a shoutout to Wagmor Pets, the organization where she adopted Lord Chesterfield from. To mark his one-year adopt-a-versary, she posted a series of photos of her pup and wrote, "One year with my lovable, squeezable, talkative (barks at air), cuddly, and not-so-little-anymore Lord Chesterfield."
Kristen Bell
The Good Place actress Kristen Bell has always been a fan of dogs. She has fostered many dogs at home with her actor-husband, Dax Shepard. The most recent addition to the house has been a three-legged dog named Whiskey. According to Bell, "he got in a fight with a truck and lost (a leg)..."
The family also owns a pup named Frank, which they rescued from The Dog Cafe. It makes sense seeing how much Bell loves dogs. She told USA Today, "I adore dogs. I think they're nature's antidepressants... I gravitate towards dogs so much, I think because they're nonverbal, and sometimes I feel like I can't always find the words."
Oprah Winfrey
If Oprah had it her way, you'd get a puppy, you'd get a puppy, we'd all get puppies! Except they would also be rescued from animal shelters and other organizations. The former television host has five dogs who accompany her in everything she does.
Cocker spaniel Sadie, who has been by her side since 2009, was adopted from an animal shelter in Chicago. In O, the Oprah Magazine, Oprah wrote, "Out of all the pups in that picture, Sadie was the one I felt an instant connection with." Oprah also has golden retrievers, Luke and Layla, and springer spaniels, Sunny and Lauren.
Hilary Swank
Growing up, actress Hilary Swank always asked her parents for a dog. Every birthday and Christmas that came along, she wished for a furry friend. Now, in adulthood, Swank has four dogs, Sufi, Teddy, Moon, and Kai. That's not all, either. Rescuing each of her pups has inspired her to give back.
The Million Dollar Baby actress started a non-profit organization, Hilaroo, which helps pair at-risk youth with foster dogs. In an interview with PEOPLE, Swank said, "I think that dogs have an incredible, innate gift of reading us without any words."
Dua Lipa
All it takes is one look at this next pup to understand why Dua Lipa called him her "tiny bestfriend." During the summer of 2020, Dua Lipa adopted a puppy with her then-boyfriend, Anwar Hadid. The two were overjoyed to welcome the little guy into their lives, who they named Dexter.
The New Rules singer wrote on his debut Instagram post, "our tiny bestfriend Dexter!!!! thank you @thelabellefoundation HE'S PERFECT." Since his first post, Dexter has become a regularly featured star on his famous mom's Instagram, and he certainly knows how to pose for the camera.
Ian Somerhalder
Although many celebs opt for rescuing dogs, they're not the only ones in need. The Vampire Diaries actor Ian Somerhalder adopted his cat Sohalia with his wife, Nikki Reed. They found her in Georgia, where the cat was marked that she wasn't friendly. Somerhalder took to Instagram to tell Sohalia's story.
When they opened her cage and realized she was the friendliest kitten in the world, the couple was smitten and adopted her. He wrote in a post, "Also, if you are thinking about adding a new member to your family, know that there might be more to the animal than what's written on their cage!!! Go have fun and adopt!"
Camila Alves McConaughey
Camila Alves McConaughey has proven just how big her heart is. The model and her actor husband, Matthew McConaughey, have a house full of kids and animals. When she adopted one puppy in 2021, she couldn't help but come home with another one in the same week! Yes, you read that right.
She wrote on Instagram, "If you thought…what was I thinking with a 4 month old puppy…well how about with another one that's 2 months old!!" That made their family count include three kids, two older dogs, two puppies, and one cat. Talk about a full house!
Lea Michele
It was a typical day at work for Glee actress Lea Michele until she stumbled upon a surprise. She found kittens! While working on the set of the acclaimed Fox television show, Michele saw a group of kittens on the Paramount lot. She took them home, finding homes for all of them besides one.
Michele adopted Sheila, and the two were best buds after that. She told Flare magazine, "She's the greatest cat in the whole world, so spunky and fun. It wouldn't be fair to have a dog, but she's the perfect companion for me." What began as an accidental run-in turned into an amazing companionship.
Sarah Paulson
Like many during the coronavirus pandemic, actress Sarah Paulson added a canine to the family. She welcomed a rescue pup named Winnie. Paulson adopted her from an organization called Paw Works and has been in love with her ever since. How could anyone not be? Look at that face!
Paulson often shows off her pup on Instagram with the hashtag Winnie Wednesday. This isn't the only dog that she has rescued, either. The American Horror Story actress also rescued her dog, Louise, from Sally's Rescue around a year ago. Now Winnie and Louise can take on the world together.
Alison Brie
Alison Brie has a thing for cats. Her house with her husband, Dave Franco, has an entire room dedicated to cats. She told Architectural Digest, "Whenever we see art of any kind with two cats on it, you know, we are like crazy cat ladies and we're obsessed with it." She told the magazine that the couple's cats have their own room.
Not only do Brie and Franco love their feline companions, but they love to rescue them, as well. They adopted Otis and Max, which are short for Otis Henry and Mad Maxine Fury Road, from MaeDay Rescue in August 2020. This was a few months after they said bye to their cat, Harry.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore really took the phrase "the more, the merrier" to heart when it came to adopting pets in need. She went to a shelter with her daughters to rescue one cat, and she ended up coming home with three kittens. They named their new family members Lucky, Peach, and Fern.
This isn't the first time Barrymore has rescued a pet. Her dog, Douglas, is also a rescue from the San Fernando Valley in California. Barrymore loves to use her platform on social media and through her talk show to help spread awareness about pet adoption. She's using her voice for the greater good!