Posts tagged "iams home 4 the holidays"

Hilary Swank took time out of her busy schedule (she's currently promoting her latest film, "Amelia") to attend the Iams Home 4 the Holidays event. Along with her mom, Judy Swank, the Oscar winner posed for pictures and helped raise awareness for shelter pets. This definitely is our kind of red-carpet photo -- precious!

Helping shelter animals definitely is no acting gig for Swank; this actress walks the walk. She currently lives with two rescued dogs: Karoo, a Jack Russel/Corgi mix she found as a tick-infested stray while working on a film; and Rumi, a Golden Retriever mix she adopted from the East Valley Humane Society. Throughout her life, she's also rescued other dogs, cats and birds.

Swank says in her Iams profile, "Every day when I look at Karoo and Rumi, I know they're thankful I've adopted them into my family, and I'm just as thankful they've adopted me." Finally, a celebrity with whom we can really connect!

The holidays are a bittersweet time for animals. More families invite new pets into their homes than any other time of year, but unfortunately, most of these new furry friends come from backyard breeders and puppy mills.

Thankfully, Iams Home 4 the Holidays, founded in 1999 and going strong, is aiming to help adopt 1,500,000 pets this holiday season via non-profit shelters and rescue organizations.

In the past, animal-loving celebrities such as Diane Keaton and Kristen Bell have lent a helping hand to participating non-profit shelters, and this year, Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank joins the ranks of animal ambassadors. While you may think this is Swank's first turn around the adoption block, you'd be wrong.

John van Zante, spokesman for the Helen Woodward Animal Center where the drive originated, tells Paw Nation that Swank has been involved with animal shelters and rescues since she was a teenager, and has two rescued dogs of her own.

Swank recently came out for a shoot at the Helen Woodward Animal Center and brought her dogs along. "Her dogs are part of her life," says van Zante. "That's who she is."

He did say there was one "problem" with Swank during the shoot, though -- she kept disappearing between takes to visit the animals at the shelter! "She went to the animal therapy center and met Harriet, our umbrella cockatoo; she worked with our medical staff to do an exam on a baby kitten. She was in the kennel with some puppies and of course she had to bring treats along. She really loves and cares about animals. It's just so genuine."

For more information, including lists of participating shelters near you, visit home4theholidays.com.