Kyra Sedgwick is perhaps best known as a Golden Globe winner and star of TNT's The Closer. She has been featured in numerous films such as Singles and The Woodsman, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. However, not everyone realizes that Kyra Sedgwick is also an animal lover and avid supporter of pet adoption and animal rescue efforts.
Kyra Sedgwick has been an animal lover all her life. She grew up with adopted dogs - first a Golden Retriever, later a Great Dane. When she went out on her own, she went to a shelter and adopted a "golden-mutt." Sedgwick is now the proud owner of Paulie, an adopted dog she affectionately calls her "Labrador deciever." She also has a rescued cat (named Laura by Sedgwick's daughter). When asked if the two pets get along - "Well, they fight like cats and dogs, but one will mope when the other is not around," she says.
Sedgwick's love of animals does not end there. Along with her husband Kevin Bacon and their two children, she volunteered with Animal Rescue New Orleans (ARNO) following hurricane Katrina. "It was a profound experience" she said. "Of course, [the pets] were sweet and adorable, but there was something intense about what they had been through."
Most recently, Sedgwick has joined forces with Hill's Pet Nutrition to promote pet welfare. She was the spokesperson for Change a Pet's Life Day, a nationwide adoption event that took place on January 24, 2008. Hill's underwrote the cost of the first ten cat and dog adoptions at 300 participating shelters across the country. New pet owners were given starter kits that include free Hill's Science Diet pet food and helpful tips. But that's not all - "Change a Pet's Life Day is part of a larger initiative," says Sedgwick. "Hill's has donated $100 million worth of dog food to shelters to get pets ready for adoption since 2002."
Kyra Sedgwick is gracious and genuine - a true pleasure to speak with. Best of all, she is sincerely dedicated to helping deal with the issue of unwanted pets. "Adoption is a crucial part of animal welfare. There are 8 million cats and dogs in shelters, most of which are NOT no-kill," she says. "Having a pet is transformational for your life." Sedgwick has done her part, changing not only her life, but the lives of her beloved pets. Now she is standing up to encourage others to do what they can to help.
If you are ready for a new dog, look for a participating shelter near you and change a pet's life! To learn more about Hill's Pet Nutrition and Change a Pet's Life Day, visit www.feedingisbelieving.com.
