It’s coming up on the one-year anniversary of my beloved My Girl crossing the rainbow bridge, and I can’t f–king believe it. We came into each other’s lives at our lowest moments, and grew to have so much in common: sassy demeanors, being easily distracted by food, and routinely periodically having to reply to strangers “No, we’re not pregnant, just fat.” I truly did not think I would welcome another pup into my home within two months of My Girl passing. But then My Guy hopped into my lap and it was all over, and I decided that the best way to honor My Girl’s memory was to give another rescue a forever home. Which leads into this seamless segue for Clear the Shelters’ 11th annual pet adoption drive happening this month! CTS is partnering with local shelters across the country, with fur-dad Joe Manganiello tapped to host a special set to air on NBC this Friday. Helping out was an easy yes for Manganiello, who says he’s “pretty much inseparable” from his 12-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix, Bubbles.
Clear the Shelters (CTS) is back this summer to help find homes for rescue pets nationwide.
From Aug. 1 to 31, NBC and Telemundo-owned stations are partnering with hundreds of shelters and rescue organizations to promote pet adoption and raise funds for animal welfare causes. Now in its 11th year, CTS has helped nearly 1.2 million pets meet their forever families, including 170,000 animals in 2024 — a single-year record for the program.
“Pet adoption is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life,” says actor Joe Manganiello, who hosts the upcoming CTS TV special on Aug. 8, and adopted his pup Bubbles six years ago.
It’s rare for Joe Manganiello to leave the house without Bubbles by his side.
“We’re pretty much inseparable,” the Deal or No Deal Island host tells PEOPLE of his tight bond with the 12-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix. Bubbles has accompanied the actor to show sets, premiere parties, and the actor’s favorite restaurant in Paris, where the dog gets her own bed and water dish.
Bubble’s life now is very different from when Manganiello first met her six years ago, when she “was peeing blood and shivering in pain” at a California rescue. The Nonnas star says he felt like it was the universe telling him, “This is your dog,” and agreed to adopt the pet, his first, and nurse her back to health.
Now “this little dog is the light of my life,” he says, adding that the pup is closer to a child or “animal familiar” than a pet. The devoted dog dad hopes Clear the Shelters inspires others to be “of service to an animal in need.”
Bubbles has been on sets, red carpets, and has a standing bed reservation at some swanky Parisian restaurant? Sounds like this pooch is long overdue for her own Dogue cover! As for this line: “The Nonnas star says he felt like it was the universe telling him, ‘This is your dog,’” you know what they call that? KISMET. And speaking of how Joe and Bubbles found each other, not to split furs here, but I thought Sofia Vergara was the one who adopted Bubbles? Then brought the pooch home, at which point Bubbles unequivocally declared, “I choose Joe,” so when Sofia and Joe divorced Sofia willingly gave Joe full custody. So whose tail is true, hmm? I guess recollections may vary…
Most importantly, support Clear the Shelters this month if you can!! Last year alone they raised $500,000 for animal shelters doing dog’s work, so let’s help them exceed that this year. The adoption drive is occurring throughout this month, during which time you can also make donations to individual CTS partners. Donations to the CTS general fund are being accepted through September 15.
When you rescue an animal, the life you save may turn out to be your own.
Photos via Instagram/Joe Manganiello
Well, Bubbles is adorbs! What a lucky wee girl that she found Joe (however that may have happened). Much as I would love to adopt a rescue (you should see my Instagram … it’s nothing but that, and Meghan/As Ever), my two Cavvies would not be welcoming. Little breed snobs. So, I’ll donate. Probably to my local shelter where I make regular food deliveries.
I’ve had Jones since 2012, he’s a 13lb terrier-esque, who used to be fearless and friendly, and is now a cranky old man living his best life, partially thanks to the arthritis shot he gets every month.
I went to the spca (b/c my boyfriend reminded me taking a dog from there would save a life) I took my bartender/friend with me, we saw several dogs i had picked out online, and then came jones. He ran around and bounded over to me and jumped up on my leg. My friend said: that’s your dog, let’s go.
In 2017, i ended up with my mom’s senior dog Honey, when my mom went to a facility, she had dementia. Honey was a happy old rescue shitzu. Really a daddy’s girl, she really took to my boyfriend, which was nice, since i gave him no choice in bringing her home- she was my mom’s dog, and as such, she was my responsibility, but oh man, did he love that little mutt. and when she passed away in 2021, i went out and got him another shitzu-esque dog, Walter. Elderly, had been severely neglected and needed a lot of tlc, something we have in great supply in our house.
My boyfriend was mad at me for about a week, but he fell for Walter that first day. And we made sure he lived like a king for the few years he had left.
When Walter died in 2023, my boyfriend said- no more 2nd dogs! Just Jones for as long as we get to have Jones around. Jones prefers being an only child, frankly. My boyfriend was very serious on this, and i gave up the idea of another 2nd dog.
Then one Saturday in February, my boyfriend popped his head in to say there was a stray dog on the porch of the vacant house next door, and did i want to come see it….
We brought her in, fed her, tried to get some of the matted hair off of her, gave her a bath, let her feel safe.
The next day i told him yes, i wanted to help this dog, find her a home, but she is definitely too young for us- (i like an old dog that just wants to lay on the bed) she was obviously young and energetic.
When i told him i didn’t think she should keep her, he replied: But i love her.
So, yeah. 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 people.
By the way, she was chipped. So immediately we drove her to the people’s home (the chip had an address and an email, but no phone info) and the lady who answered the door told my boyfriend that the dog had been gone for 6 weeks, she had already gotten rid of all the dog’s stuff, and really didn’t want her back.
I have never been simultaneously been so relieved we didn’t have to hand her back to someone who wasn’t treating her well, sad for our new girl that someone could discard her like that, and enraged.
I still say she’s too young. But she is ours. And Jones is annoyed by it, but, just tries to stay out of her way and not get run over by her. She is a whirling dervish.
Rescue dogs are some of the best parts of life.
One of the reasons shelters are full right now is because immigrants fleeing the country have had to leave their pets behind.
Anything that gets pet rescues in the news is great but, by all accounts, this is Joe getting not just Bubbles in the breakup but Bubbles’ origin story too. There are several interviews where Sophia said she adopted Bubbles. Cognitive dissonance for me with his rescue work because I just can’t with that thirsty beefcake.
So sorry for the loss of your My Girl, Kismet. Your My Guy is lucky to have found such a loving human.
I love Joe for his love of Bubbles and his dedication to helping animals. It breaks my heart to see the abuse and neglect so many of these animals have suffered and how frightened they are. We need as many loving people as possible caring about the lives of these innocents.