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Drew Barrymore and Dave Bautista want you to take home a shelter dog today.
The stars and rescue dog parents recently partnered with the ASPCA to celebrate October's Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Barrymore and Bautista know firsthand the joy a shelter pup can bring to a family, so for the month of October, the actors are helping others find this happiness.
Throughout the month, both celebrities will post adoptable dogs on their social media channels in an effort to find homes for the chosen pups and raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption and fostering.
Barrymore and Bautista will also share information about the Rescue Effect campaign — which stresses how pet adoptions help shelters — to help increase interest in pet adoption even further.
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According to the ASPCA, many of America's animal shelters are in crisis, with 6.5 million animals entering U.S. shelters in 2023 and limited resources to care for them. Of those 6.5 million animals, 3.2 million were dogs, and of those canines, only 2.2 million found homes. The Rescue Effect shows how adopting or fostering a pet relieves the strain on shelters and their resources and makes space in shelters for new rescue animals in need.
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"We are thankful for the support of Drew Barrymore and Dave Bautista, who have proven to be compassionate ambassadors for dogs in shelters," Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO, shared in a statement to PEOPLE. "This Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, we hope Drew and Dave's efforts will inspire the public to adopt or foster a pet, making an impact that ripples throughout shelters nationwide while creating space for more dogs in need."
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Barrymore and Bautista have already made an impact through pet adoption. The Drew Barrymore Show host is the pet parent of seven adopted animals, including her rescue pup Douglas. Barrymore also cares for four cats, a snake, and a bearded dragon.
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Bautista also has numerous pets. The Guardians of the Galaxy actor is the proud dad of four rescue pit bulls and advocates for the breed, addressing the misconceptions pit bulls can face.
"Every day, my rescue dogs, Ollie, Maggie, Penny, and Talulah, show me why all shelter pets deserve compassion, care, and unconditional love. They've changed my life in the best way as much as I've changed theirs," said Dave Bautista. "By choosing to adopt, I not only gave them second chances at life but also helped create room at my local shelter for other rescue pets to find good, loving families. A positive future for shelter pets starts with someone like you or me."
Visit the ASPCA's website to learn more about Adopt a Shelter Dog Month and meet rescue pets looking for loving homes,
