Pet mom Ariana Madix is urging people to look to shelters the next time they’re thinking about adding a pet to their family. 

The Love Island USA host is the new face of the ASPCA’s national pet adoption campaign, “The Rescue Effect.” She rescued her two beloved animals, an 18-year-old cat named Kitty and a 6-year-old pit bull-mix named Mya Moon. Now, she hopes other people will follow her lead by turning to their local shelter when adopting their next pet. 

Ariana Madix teams up with ASPCA

“When you visit a shelter, you’ll see so many wonderful animals just waiting for a second chance,” she said. “Choosing to adopt even one pet creates a ripple — not just for that animal, but for others who now have a better chance at finding a home, too.”

Ariana adopted her first rescue dog, Charlotte, when she was in college in Florida. (Charlotte died in 2022). When she was living in New York City, the future Bravo star rescued Kitty, a stray. And during the pandemic, she gave 11-month-old foster pup Mya Moon a permanent home. 

“Pet adoption and rescue have been important to me since I was a little kid. My mom shared my love for animals, and she gave me the instinct to help them,” the Vanderpump Rules alum said. “I want people to know there are amazing animals in shelters who match all the things they say they’re looking for — whether it be breed, size or age. These animals do exist in shelters — just go look.”

Ariana’s devotion to her pets is well-known to fans of Vanderpump Rules. During season 11, she and her ex Tom Sandoval got into a massive fight over his treatment of Mya. At one point, she accused him of locking the dog in her room at the house they still shared.  

‘He not only let Mya in my room, but he then locked her in there for hours, so while she was trapped in there, she chewed on a takeout container that had, like, wooden skewers from chicken satay,” Ariana said. “And that carelessness given what she has now ingested could literally end her life.” Ariana rushed Mya to the vet, who ended up being OK after a $6,000 surgery.

“This is not the first time he has given zero sh*ts about the wellbeing of what I consider to be my children,” she added.

ASPCA encourages people to give rescue animals a loving home

Nearly 6 million dogs and cats entered shelters in 2024, and many are staying longer than ever as they wait for someone to bring them home, according to ASCPA. Through its new campaign, the organization is partnering with more than 550 shelters and rescues around the U.S. to engage more adopters and reduce the time animals spend waiting for loving homes. To support the initiative, ASPCA is providing $2 million to more than 100 participating shelters to help waive adoption fees and support their operating costs, giving more animals a chance to find loving homes.

For more information about the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign and to find a participating shelter or rescue, visit aspca.org/therescueeffect. 

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