Dave Bautista turns his love for animals into a mission to help every animal from the shelter.
Guardians of the Galaxy actor teamed up with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to celebrate Giving Tuesday by raising awareness for the thousands of animals in need.
Beginning Nov. 28, the ASPCA will begin sharing Bautista’s, 54, message about Giving Tuesday — a global movement to encourage charitable giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. PEOPLE has an exclusive sneak peek at the actor’s call to action, which includes a look at his four rescue pit bulls.
“My home is where my dogs are because there’s just such a feeling of love,” Bautista says in the video about what inspires him to help rescue pets, adding that his dogs are his “happy place” amid his chaotic schedule.
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While Bautista and his pups are now inseparable, the retired professional wrestler only adopted his first rescue dogs five years ago. Dogs had such a profound effect on his happiness. Bautista wants to spread that joy to others and save the lives of pets in the process.
“My first rescue dogs were Ollie and Maggie and I’ve had them for about five years. I adopted them and after becoming so attached to them, I became more aware of how many dogs are just waiting for someone to give them those good, loving homes,” he said. Bautista said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. “You get so much in return when you adopt a pet, and I will preach adoption for the rest of my life.”
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Bautista adds in his Giving Tuesday video that he has been donating to the ASPCA for over 10 years and is grateful to everyone who donates their time and money to animals in need.
The ASPCA and Bautista hope the actor’s Giving Tuesday message about the love foster pets can bring to life — and the help these animals need to thrive — will inspire others to lend a paw.
Dave Bautista cuddles with one of his four rescue pit bulls.
ASPCA
“No amount is too small,” Bautista says in the video as he encourages viewers to consider the ASPCA and other animal rescue initiatives on Giving Tuesday.
“Dave Bautista’s compassion for homeless animals and his advocacy for pit bulls, in particular, make him a strong ambassador for GivingTuesday, inspiring his fans and many others to foster, foster and contribute to the health and well-being of animals in shelters, even before those animals are ready for new homes ,” Matt Bershadker, president and chief executive officer of the ASPCA, said in a statement. “We thank Dave and everyone who spoke up and stepped up this holiday season on behalf of dogs and cats in need, and we strongly support these animals now and always.”
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To learn more about the ASPCA and how to help save pets on Giving Tuesday, visit the organization’s website.
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