Josh Duhamel backs pet adoption scheme

Josh Duhamel is urging fans to adopt abandoned animals after he was left "shocked" by the number of homeless pets in the country.

The Transformers star and his pop star wife Fergie took in a canine companion, named Meatloaf, for their dachshund Zoe, and although the pooch passed away earlier this year (12), Duhamel is convinced that pet adoption changed his life.

He wants others to consider picking up pets from shelters, and is backing PetSmart Charities' latest awareness campaign to rehome the estimated eight million animals abandoned annually.

Duhamel says, "Pet adoption changed my life when we were looking to find a companion for our seven-year-old dachshund, Zoe. Soon after adopting Meatloaf, I learned that these pets are just grateful for the love you have to give them.

"I'm shocked by the statistics of the homeless pet problem. I applaud PetSmart Charities for its achievement of saving five million pets, and I'm honoured to work with them to encourage everyone to bring the joy of an adopted pet into their lives and help save millions more pets."