Hollywood Actors Open Hearts, Adopt Homeless Pups At Kent

CALVERTON, NY — Ralph Macchio may be a Hollywood star, known for a string of hits including The Karate Kid and Dancing With the Stars but deep down, he's a Long Island native with a heart of pure gold

Macchio and his wife Phyllis traveled to Calverton recently, where, in a real-life leading man act of chivalry, he adopted a Yorkie, Oliver, from the Kent Animal Shelter, giving the pup a forever home.

Pam Green, executive director of Kent, said Oliver "is a rising star" in the Macchio household. He was one of six Yorkies brought to Kent in desperate need of care.

And Macchio isn't the only actor who's given a Kent dog a new beginning: Another recent A-list visitor to the shelter was Adrian Grenier, best known for his roles both in the HBO series Entourage and in The Devil Wears Prada.

Both actors, Green said, are using their star power to shine a light on the plight of animals in dire need.

"They are both animal advocates and are aware that many animals are suffering in puppy mills around the country. Celebrities can help to convey that adoption should be the first option and that buying a puppy in a pet shop propagates the suffering of animals in puppy mills."

Kent urged others to join Kent's 2017 rescue mission. "Together, let's make sure every homeless animal becomes a star in someone's life."

Kent Animal Shelter has an ongoing Crowdrise fundraiser.

"The Kent Animal Shelter is a private, not-for-profit humane society that provides a haven for homeless, abused and abandoned animals until we can find them new homes. In addition to shelter, we and our generous supporters provide these animals with food, veterinary care, and adoption services daily. We rescue pets from inhumane situations such as puppy mills, hoarders, and overburdened municipal shelters. We place hundreds of animals in loving and responsible homes each year, and we spay/neuter hundreds hundreds more at our low cost spay/neuter clinic," the page reads.