Actor Joe Manganiello wasn’t on a television or movie set when he met his dog Bubbles. But their origin story reads like it’s straight out of a Hollywood script.
It was roughly six years ago when Manganiello happened upon an adoption event — though he didn’t have any plans to become a dog dad at the time. In fact, the “Deal or No Deal Island” host and “Nonnas” star had never owned a pet before and his work schedule was among the reasons he wasn’t interested in changing that.
But Bubbles had other ideas.
Once Manganiello entered the room, Bubbles perked up and darted over to him. Manganiello picked up the then-6-year-old Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix and held her in his lap, and she growled whenever someone would get close to the actor.
“The dog was meant for somebody else,” Manganiello told NBCUniversal Local, “and the dog liked me.”
Then Manganiello learned about Bubbles’ story. She was urinating blood and required multiple surgeries amid a battle with mammary cancer. In addition to her health struggles, Bubbles also had trouble finding a forever home — she was returned by multiple potential owners.
“I felt bad,” Manganiello said. “I felt like the universe had said, ‘This is your dog and you’re gonna take care of this little thing. And you’re at least gonna get her the surgeries she needs.'”
Manganiello did just that, making it his mission to find Bubbles the best possible care and relieve her of the pain she was experiencing.
He had initially volunteered to look after her for a week. But when Bubbles went in for surgery, Manganiello filled out her adoption papers.
“It’s been one of the greatest things I’ve done with my life,” said Manganiello, who’s hosting this year’s Clear The Shelters TV special on NBC.
“I really do think rescue dogs know and they understand when they’re being rescued, and they know what that means,” he added. “They feel that.”
Manganiello went from never owning a pet to having Bubbles constantly by his side. The two have traveled across the world together, with Manganiello joking to Jimmy Fallon earlier this year that Bubbles has “more stamps on her passport than most people do in their entire life.”
Joe Manganiello rides a bike with Bubbles in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines last December. (Photo by John Parra/Getty Images for Sandals Resorts)
Bubbles has even ventured into the social media space. Her Instagram account, which was started in March by Manganiello’s girlfriend, actress Caitlin O’Connor, has over 20,000 followers.
The most recent post shows Bubbles celebrating her 12th birthday earlier this month with a pup cup.
“I really just never understood how much a dog can love you,” Manganiello said. “Like, [through] thick and thin, no matter what.
“There’s nothing like the joy of waking up in the morning and seeing this little thing looking at you and excited to go outside and start the day.”
Clear the Shelters is NBCUniversal Local’s pet adoption and donation initiative that has helped more than 1.2 million pets find homes.
For more information on Clear The Shelters, including participating animal shelters and rescues, along with details on local events and television programming, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com, and follow Clear The Shelters on social media:
