Petside Profile: Kyra Sedgwick Discusses "Change a Pet's Life Day" | Dog & Cat Health, Wellness, Products and Breed Information

Petside Profile: Kyra Sedgwick Discusses "Change a Pet's Life Day"
| Print | By Charli James | January 21, 2009 5:10 PM

Kyra Sedgwick with her dog Paulie

Petside.com sat down with Kyra Sedgwick, star of the TV drama The Closer and Golden Globe winner, to learn more about her love for animals and her involvement in Change a Pet's Life Day, coming up on January 24th.

Q: Tell us about your pets!

Kyra: I got my first adopted pet when I was 18 from a shelter in Long Island. He was with me for 18 years. And then when I met Kev (husband, actor Kevin Bacon), he had an adopted dog named Jane, who also lived to be 18.

Our most recent shelter animals are Paulie and Laura. Paulie's a dog and we got him about 11 years ago, and Laura, a cat who's also a rescue. So I have a long history with shelter animals and we're big believers in adoption.

Q: What breeds are your pets?

Kyra: We call Paulie the "Labrador deceiver" because he's a Lab and something else. And actually Laura is a pure-bred Russian Blue who we got from a shelter. So that just goes to show that you can get all kinds of pets at shelters.

Q: What's your favorite thing to do with your pets?

Kyra: Paulie is a big hiker and he's great on a trail and he's a great retriever as well. So that's really, really fun!

Q: How are the pet-related chores divvied up in your house? Do your husband and kids help out?

Kyra: Paulie gets walked four times a day. I do the morning walk, and then there's another walk that gets done by whom ever is there. Then the 4 o'clock walk is by the dog walker and the nighttime walk is either Kevin or I or one of the kids.

Q: How did your love for animals begin?

Kyra: I grew up with dogs and I actually can't remember not having one. I just think it's a life altering experience. It's an unconditional love, a wonderful commitment that you can make, and you will reap what you sow for sure.

Q: What is the goal of Change a Pet's Life Day?

Kyra: Change a Pet's Life Day is January 24th, and Hill's Science Diet is offering free pet adoptions at shelters across the country. The goal is to get people that are even mildly interested in adopting a dog or a cat into the shelters to take a look. And if they want to adopt on that day, they can actually have the cost of the adoption paid for.

So my goal would be that we heard from all these shelters and they said there are lines around the block and it was amazing!

Q: How did you become involved in this initiative?

Kyra: They asked me and it was definitely a cause that I believe in. There are so many animals that need homes and so many people that need animals.

Q: Why is adoption so important right now?

Kyra: There are over 8 million cats and dogs in shelters every year who need places to live, but it's even more important now because of the economic situation. I think people are feeling like they have to give up their dog or cat. And also there are very few no-kill shelters in the country. And that's really sad.

It would be great if three times as many people as normal showed up on Change a Pet's Life Day to adopt a pet. And it's really hard to go to a shelter and not get an animal because they are so incredibly adorable.

***

Change a Pet's Life Day is Saturday, January 24th. To find out how to participate visit www.feedingisbelieving.com.

Comments (9)

Anonymous January 22, 2009 7:33 PM

I adopted a dog two and half years ago. I recently had to put her down do to Addisons Deases. We fought to keep her alive for two months with medicstion but her system just gave out. I miss her very much! Shewolf

Anonymous January 22, 2009 8:39 PM

Kyra:
You and Kevin are not only incredible actors, but evidently very compassionate beings.
All of my companions, 2 dogs, 5 cats, are rescued friends.
They each have their own personalities and I am grateful to be their caregiver.
Suffice it to say--- they eat before I do.
Blessings.
Sydney C. St. Clair

Anonymous January 22, 2009 10:13 PM

I am a disabled Veteran from the United States Navy, serived in Vietnam as a Navy Nurse and came out as a full Commander. I was home less than a year when I was Car jacked shot twice in the head and once in the neck. I spent 1 and a half years in the hospital. During that time The Government gave me a service dog, she came from a shelter, trained by Marines, her name is Foxy, she is by my side every day they rescued her and she has rescued me from dependance to independance.All she asks for is food and love. Everyone should visit a shelter near them save a dog and it will save you.
Commander J A. Rodriguez, USN/NC/Vietnam Veteran

Anonymous January 23, 2009 8:42 AM

I rescured my Lizzie a bischon 12 years ago. She was two at the time and only used for breeding. I convinced the breeder to let me have her. I paid for the flight from Texas to Florida where we lived at the time. She was my best friend, you could see her soul through her eyes. We lost her to cancer last year, but I still have her ashes with me. Since we have recsued another bischon and poodle mix and although he will never replace Lizzie, Andy is just a loving clown. We also have a 2 year shelte. Loving my friends in SC

Anonymous January 23, 2009 1:06 PM

Love your show, The Closer. Now I feel even doubly good watching it since I feel you as I do --- It takes an animal to truly teach us kindness, caring and How to be Human Beings. Keep up the good work, Kathy Domenech Vacaville, Ca.

Anonymous January 23, 2009 4:15 PM

It is good to see someone with so much fame who is so down to earth and want to help those that are abandoned and or abused. Thank you and all those who help these poor souls.

Anonymous February 2, 2009 8:55 PM

I have 6 dogs our more recent adopted was from a shelter he was being fostered Rory is deaf his foster mom taught him hand signals and house trained him. Our other five are all either adopted from a foster situation or were given to us because on one wanted them....I love every minute of the craziness that is our home! I cannot imagine buying a dog when such wonderful animals are waiting for a home!

Anonymous February 5, 2009 1:05 PM

I have two cats,Spike a 3yr old male and in October we got him a 7 month old female friend named Flower. They always put a smile on our faces. They run around and entertain us every morning and every night. We call them our kids. Both of our cats were rescued and I took my grandson who wanted another cat for Spike to play with to a shelter in a small town and we rescued the most unlikly cat to be rescued because she was the most scrawny cat there and the lady that helped us said that she did'nt think someone would want her. Well we love our Flower!