Pets are an exciting addition to any home, and it’s no different when it comes to stars. In fact, some Hollywood pets have become famous in their own right, like Taylor Swift’s three cats Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey and Benjamin Button; Ariana Grande’s 10 (!) dogs and a pig; and Reese Witherspoon’s adorable french bulldog puppy, Minnie Pearl.
As part of Variety‘s newly launched Our Town section, Marc Malkin will be keeping track of all the adorable pets being welcomed into their homes by celebrities, executives and others in the entertainment industry.
Kara and Jason Spector welcomed Gus, an Australian labradoodle, as a present for son Jaxon, 8, and daughter Emery, 2. Kara is VP of publicity at Walt Disney Studios; Jason is VP of marketing at Independent Sports & Entertainment.
Nia Vardalos and her daughter, Ilaria, adopted Meli, a lab and golden mix, from K9 Connection in Escondido, Calif. Meli joins the family’s dog Louie Salvatore Dominick Bagel. Vardalos is an actor-writer-director best known for “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
Dayna Wolpa adopted Lucy, an 11-month-old Tibetan terrier-Havanese mix, with help from The Kern Project. Wolpa is the director of event marketing at Variety.
Damien S. Navarro and Adam Z. Kawalek welcomed Lucy on May 14. The 4-month-old French bulldog joins Cody, a Lab-mix rescue. Navarro is executive director of Outfest; Kawalek is a physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Ashley Bell adopted Hattie, a 16-month-old Great Pyrenees, from the San Bernardino Animal Shelter with help from the Great Pyrenees Assn. of Southern California. Bell is an actor known for “The Last Exorcism” and recently wrote, directed and produced “Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story.”
After the recent death of her cat Mouse, award-winning songwriter Diane Warren welcomed home a 3-month- old feline she named Rabbit. “I know Mouse has been reinCATnated in her,” Warren wrote on Facebook. “There are too many similarities. She is sweet and playful and smart as shit, just like Mouse.” Warren was nominated for her 12th Oscar for best original song this year for “Io Si (Seen)” from the Netflix drama “The Life Ahead.”
Sam McConnell and husband Kyle Hannaford adopted Gigi, a 10-week-old basenji puppy, on March 28. McConnell is a director and producer known for HBO’s “The Out List” and “The Trans List”; Hannaford is vice president of legal affairs at Live Nation.
Michael Devine brought home Edie (above), a 9-week-old Yorkiepoo, on March 26. Devine is an actor who most recently played Det. Paul O’Rourke on “The Undoing.”
Wendy Goldstein brought home 7-week-old pug Shams on Feb. 18 after rescuing the puppy at adoption center Wags & Walks. Goldstein is the president of West Coast creative at Republic Records.
Judi Marmel and Steve Marmel adopted Dolly, a 14-week-old Lhasa apso named after entertainment icon Dolly Parton. Judi is a founding partner of entertainment company Levity Live; Steve is a writer.
John D and Steve Chetelat welcomed 10-week-old French bulldog Willis (above), who joins their 11-year-old Boston terrier Louise and 9-year-old French bulldog Gus Gus. John D is a hair stylist; Chetelat is a real estate agent at Compass Beverly Hills.
Katie Greenthal welcomed 9-week-old micro goldendoodle George, named after George O’Malley from “Grey’s Anatomy,” on Jan. 30. George’s Instagram is @georgethelittlegoldendood. Greenthal is a publicist at The Lede Co.
Patrick Healy adopted his family’s 14-year-old tabby, Pepper, whom he helped rescue as a child, Jan. 30. Pepper’s Instagram is @bestcoastpepper. Healy is a publicist at MRC.
Billy Porter welcomed 3-month-old cockapoo Bader Lola Majors, who also goes by Miss Lola and whose initials, BLM, are in tribute to Black Lives Matter, on Instagram Jan. 30. Miss Lola has a dedicated page on Instagram @baderlolamajors. Porter is an actor and a singer.
Camila Alves revealed on Instagram that she and husband Matthew McConaughey have adopted two puppies, a 2-month-old and a 4-month-old, from The Humane Society. Alves is a model and an entrepreneur; McConaughey is an actor.
Goldie Hawn introduced her and Kurt Russell’s new rescued puppy, Roy, on Instagram on Jan. 8. The couple now have five dogs. Actors Hawn and Russell have co-starred in the films “Overboard” and “The Christmas Chronicles 2.”
Spike Lee introduced his new Shih Tzu, Otis, on Instagram on Jan. 1: “OTIS Is Smart, Playful FUNNY. Mr. OTIS “FATS TUESDAY” LEE IZ A Pandemic Puppy. We💜💜💜💜 OTIS.” Lee is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter, director and producer.
Ella, a golden retriever puppy, was welcomed by Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka and their 10-year old twins Harper and Gideon on Christmas morning.
Welly, a 2-month-old schnauzer, was welcomed in New York City by Joseph Carozza, Republic Records exec VP of media & artist relations.
Disco, a 7-week old cavapoochon, was brought home by Aubry & Co. founder Jonathon Aubry and writer-producer-author
Abdi Nazemian on Dec. 26 in L.A. Disco joins the family of four, which includes the couple’s 9-year-old twins, Rumi and Evie.
Appa Grande, a toy poodle, was welcomed by Frankie Grande and Hale Leon on Nov. 28. Grande is an actor; Leon is a gamer and an actor.
Kumi and Sato, 8-week-old twin Akita pups, were welcomed by actors Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. and family.
Frankie, a labradoodle puppy, was welcomed by Lede Co.’s Lori Burns on Nov. 12.
Klaus, a German Shepherd, was adopted on Nov. 3 by Jason Ball, VP of news at KTLA-TV, and Troy Jones, principal at EY.
Buddy, a one-eyed shih tzu was brought home on Nov. 11 from Florida’s Big Dog Ranch Rescue by Allied Global Marketing senior VP Lisa Giannakopulos.
Want your pet announced in Variety? Email mmalkin@variety.com.