Tom Hardy's Amazing Rescue Of His Dog Woody Has Helped Advocate For The Safe Adoption Of Stray Dogs
Known for his titular role in Mad Max: Fury Road, Tom Hardy has cemented himself as one of the most sought-after celebrities in Hollywood. The British actor has starred in numerous blockbuster hits like The Dark Knight Rises, Dunkirk, Venom, and popular TV series like Peaky Blinders.
The actor recently made headlines when he entered a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship and won. Tom is also an ambassador for the REORG Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Foundation, which helps veterans and military personnel harness the power of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to aid in their mental health recovery.
His philanthropy didn't stop there, as the actor is also famed for his advocacy with the animal rights organization PETA. Tom joined them in championing the cause of adopting dogs from shelters.
His work with PETA is a story near and dear to Tom's heart. His dog Woodstock, Woody for short, was a rescue that Tom didn't plan on adopting.
Naturally, he and Woody became the stars of the organization's adoption campaign. Tom spoke at length about his long-time love for animals.
His first pup, as a 17-year-old lad, was aptly named Mad Max. The actor said that he loved his dog so much that he took him to his drama class daily.
After Max passed, Tom's next dog was Woodstock. The dog actually made waves because Tom brought him to the red carpet event for his movie Legend.
Photographed here: Woodstock, one of Time's Most Influential Animals of 2016, and his number one fan & owner, the actor Tom Hardy
The event was also a great opportunity for Tom and Woody to speak about their dog adoption advocacy
Woody is not yet used to his fame and was more interested in chasing (perhaps, befriending) pigeons.
He also frequently checked in with Tom just to see if the actor was faring better than he was with the press.
He reluctantly shared Tom's attention with other people.
Woody was just 11 weeks old when Tom rescued him from the streets of Atlanta.
Unfortunately, Woody passed away after a tough battle with polymyositis. He was 6 years old.
In a rare moment, Tom penned a loving Tumblr tribute about the fateful night he first met Woody.
Woody fell asleep on Tom's shoulders the moment they got into the car.
Woodstock Yamaduki was finally safe, and Tom had a new best friend after Max's passing.
They eventually moved back to the UK, and Woody became a proper Londoner.
His loving dog lived a full life with their family, and he was adored by everyone he met.
The pain from Woody's untimely passing was palpable in the tribute Tom wrote for him.
"He burnt very, very bright, and those that burn very bright sometimes burn half as long."
Woody was a superstar in his own right — he was an advocate, a bedtime story reader, and most of all, he was a best friend to Tom.
Tom Hardy continues to work with shelters and organizations that support the welfare of dogs. He's also had new dogs since Woody's passing.
His friendship with Woody and the dog's amazing rescue story has certainly touched the lives of dog advocates. Woody's memory will live on and will not soon be forgotten.
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