As animal shelters across the country grapple with a capacity crisis with an overwhelming number of animal intake, “The Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson volunteered at an animal shelter Thursday to promote pet adoption and support animal shelters nationwide.
Hutcherson, who grew up with dogs and cats all his life, was comfortable interacting with shelter pets at Pasadena Humane as he teamed up with NBC Universal Local’s Clear the Shelters campaign.
“We’re just partnering to try to get as many people during the month of August to find some great homes for these animals,” he said.
Hutcherson is a proud dog dad himself to two rescue Pit Bulls, 13-year-old Manji and 9-year-old Driver.
“They are just the best,” Hutcherson said, adding he rescued his dogs when they were 8 weeks old. “I think a lot of people can kind of get deterred by bigger dog breeds or even Pit Bulls in general, but they’re the sweetest dogs in the world.”
Despite having starred in blockbuster movies, Hutcherson said he likes to stay away from social media and avoid public limelight. But he decided to participate in the campaign as shining light on the dire needs of animal shelters was close to his heart.
“I’m cautious with what I want to connect myself to,” Hutcherson explained. “But when this opportunity came to partner on such a great initiative and come hang out with dogs, talk about dogs and cats, trying to find them homes, I was like OK. That’s something I will happily be part of.”
Hanging out with dogs and cats – he did. During the volunteer event Thursday, Hutcherson met two kitten siblings, Jay and Mitch.
“When you’re holding a cat, and it’s purring, it gives you such a “take a nap” (feeling.)”