Having a pet is one of life’s treats. They don’t require much, and they return your love tenfold.
You’ve probably seen photos of your favorite celebrity out and about with their dog, or read an Instagram post about their cute cat. Animals are the ultimate pleasure, but you can feel even better about having one if you rescue it.
While some head to the store or breeder to buy their future best friend, some take the other route and become rescuers. Celebrities such as Olivia Wilde and Chris Evans fall into the latter category. Find out who else did right here!
Cooper To The Rescue
“I lucked out, I got two great rescues…I’m sort of a hybrid of both my dogs,” Bradley Cooper told People Pets. “Samson is stoic and makes me earn it, and Charlotte loves me undyingly. They’re my kids.”
Saved At The Last Moment
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Samson is the name of the German Shorthaired Pointer that he luckily saved. Cooper found him in a kill shelter and took action. When Cooper saw Charlotte at an adoption drive, he fell in love right away. Now he has two doggo kids!
Legend Has It…
Not only has John Legend achieved the legendary EGOT status, has a beautiful and talented partner in Chrissy Teigen (and the most adorable children), but he also loves to rescue dogs.
Teigen and Legend are always posting on social media, so fans can stay in touch with their lives.
A Little Canine Army
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We know that he has a mini canine army! This little one’s name is Penny, and she’s three-legged. How sweet of the couple is that? We’re positive Penny is the perfect addition to their cute family.
From Avenger To Rescuer
“Excuse me, are u busy? Could I interest u in chasing squirrels with me outside? Or perhaps u could toss the frisbee? I have no plans today,” Chris Evans caption this photo on his Twitter. Evans was filming a movie and had to do a scene in an animal shelter.
A Dog Named Dodger
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He thought he wouldn’t fall for any of the animals, but now here we are. He saw this pup and fell in love. The dog’s name is Dodger and Evans says playing with him counts as exercise.
Wilde Loves To Adopt!
Those who are a fan of Olivia Wilde know she’s a celebrity of good character. Her stunning looks are matched by the kind spirit she has. Adopting her pup Elvis is only more proof of that. In July of 2017, she took to Instagram to announce the new addition.
Adopt, Don’t Shop
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“He’s lived a pretty harrowing life so far, and we are so lucky he adopted us as his new family, so we can treat him like the king he was born to be,” she started. This is our second adopted furry son, and we cannot recommend it enough.” You heard her. Adopt, don’t shop.
Chelsea Handler And Her Chows Story
Chelsea Handler has a history of adopting dogs in need of a home. In the past, she rescued Chunk and Tammy from shelters, but sadly she lost both of them within a year. Once Chunk passed, she vowed to adopt more, and that’s exactly what she did.
Bert And Bernice
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“2 new babies. Bert and Bernice,” Handler captioned a post on Instagram showing off her new rescued Chows. She stuck to her word and is now starting a new family with Bert and Bernice.
These next two make the cutest pair…
Munn Stands With Rescuing
Olivia Munn is a blossoming star in the acting world. She previously dated Green Bay Packers star Aaron Rodgers, but he wasn’t the only guy in her life. The X-Men actress scooped up a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel by the name of Chance.
Take A Chance
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She always posts photos of her and Chance on her Instagram account and the two of them look adorable together. “To anyone looking to bring a dog into their world, please choose to rescue instead of buying,” the actress says.
“There are so many amazing dogs that need love and a home and are waiting for someone to rescue them.”
The Clooneys Add To The Family
One of Hollywood’s cutest couples expanded on their cuteness not too long ago.
Amal and George Clooney adopted a four-year-old pup from California’s San Gabriel Valley Humane Society and named her Millie. She was struggling to find scraps to eat, but now she’s living much better.
A Basset Hound
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“Today her luck changed for the better when she was adopted by George and Amal Clooney,” read a message on the shelter’s website. “They were searching for a basset hound and saw Millie’s picture on Petfinder.”
Jon Hamm Has Had Her For Eight Years!
If you know Mad Men, then you know Jon Hamm. The actor who finally won an Emmy after 16 nominations did something entirely heart-melting when he accepted the award.
He went up on stage and thanked his dog, who he rescued over eight years ago.
Cora
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“I want to thank those who have gotten me here,” Hamm started his speech. “Cora and Jenn thank you, I would not be standing here without you.” Cora is the name of his dog that he’s had even before Mad Men.
“We went and saw her and fell in love, she’s been in our lives for eight years.”
Sandra Bullock Has Three Special Need Pups!
Are you not impressed with Miss Congeniality? Sandra Bullock must have a huge and kind heart. She has gone out of her way to rescue three tiny dogs that all have special needs.
There is Poppy the Tripod, Ruby the Bipod, and Bebe (who is not pictured) the Chihuahua.
Special Needs Dogs
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Bullock loves her dogs so much even with their disabilities. She says they are perfect regardless of anything because they give her so much love in a way that people aren’t capable of.
This next dog is the cute creature of royalty.
The Royal New Edition
All eyes on the Royals! Once Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, she knew her ordinary life was over and that there would be a huge spotlight on her and her new husband even more than before they wed.
That means that even when they adopted a new pup, it classified as breaking news.
The Royal Labrador
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Early in the summer of 2018, the couple had rescued a Labrador, and the doggo joined them on their country getaway. This isn’t the first pooch Markle has rescued.
She was once convinced by Ellen DeGeneres to save her first pup, Bogart before she even knew who Ellen was.
Josh Hutcherson Saved Driver
Back in 2012, Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson went out and rescued a puppy from the Downy Animal Shelter. He was only 19 at the time, so that must have been a big step for him moving into adulthood. But he sure loves Driver.
Very Well Behaved
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“He’s literally the most well-behaved dog you have ever met,” Hutcherson said after he first got Driver. “For a puppy, he doesn’t chew things up, he’s already almost housebroken, and he’s only 8 weeks old. He’s incredible. He’s doing great.”
Adopting Is a Big Deal For Anne Hathaway
The fantastic actress Anne Hathaway is no stranger to rescuing pups. Before adding the most recent addition to her family, she had a chocolate lab by the name of Esmeralda. Eventually, she decided to find a pal for the lab.
The Amanda Foundation
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Back in 2014, Hathway and her husband Adam Shulman went to the Amanda Foundation and found the perfect dog to rescue and pair with Esmeralda.
The president of the Amanda Foundation said the little Spaniel and terrier mix was “a calm, sweet puppy. Which is why he’s going to be a good companion for Esmeralda.”
Simon Isn’t Always Mean
If you know Simon Cowell, then you know he isn’t all smiles and giggles. He can be pretty blunt and doesn’t care. He showcases that on the talent shows he’s been a host of, but we’ve discovered that he has a soft spot for Yorkshire Terriers.
A Hidden Side To Simon
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“I love my dogs so much,” Cowell said. “I take them on holidays, I let them sleep in the bed and sometimes one gets in the bath with me.” That seems like an entirely different person than what we see on the screen!
Ariana Takes Over For Her Late Ex
Back in 2017 Mac Miller adopted a puppy while he and Ariana Grande were still dating. The dog’s name is Myron, and he is a pit bull mix. Miller grabbed the last one of the litter from Wylder’s Pets who are strong advocates of adopting and not shopping.
A Close Friend
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The couple split and a few months after the breakup, Miller passed away of an apparent overdose. Grande took to Instagram and posted a video of her with little Myron, leading many to believe she has adopted the dog. There’s no official word yet, but that seems to be the case.
What are friends when you have dogs? The next celebrity can answer that…
Jennifer Aniston Is In Love With Dogs
You know her and probably love her. Jennifer Aniston is an avid dog fan. When one of her dogs passed away, she got a tattoo of his name. Aniston and her ex-husband Justin Theroux adopted together back when they were still a couple. She rescued a German Shepherd, Dolly, and a pit bull.
Sophie’s Choice
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“We were there (at the shelter) for three hours, and I’m telling you, I…almost out with three puppies,” Aniston said in an interview. “It’s so hard. That’s why we named her Sophie, because it was Sophie’s Choice. I was crying – it was so hard.”
The GOAT Gets A Dog
Tom Brady — love him or hate him, you have to respect his talent. Not long ago he and his wife Gisele Bündchen rescued the cutest little black and white puppy named Fluffy. Brady posted a hilarious video of him holding Fluffy, looking like he’d never picked up a dog before.
A Sweet Thank You
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Thankfully, his wife is more in tune, and she posted a picture with a sweet caption on her Instagram. “Thank you @wagsandwalks for all you do and for letting us rescue this little angel. The kids are over the moon with our new family member. Fluffy is pure joy!”
Nothing To Be Ashamed About Here
“When I met Pepper, she was totally shaved because her fur had been so matted from living on the street,” Emmy Rossum says. “But as soon as I picked up this adorable mess of an animal, we had a connection.” And like that, the waterworks start up.
Rossum not only has Pepper, but she has a whole family of adopted pets.
Where's The Cat?
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A cat that’s not pictured is named Fiona after her Shameless character, and a teacup Yorkshire Terrier named Cinnamon. Rossum is very passionate about her advocacy for the no-kill movement which led her to adopt such precious gifts.
Give Hilary The Older One
Hilary Duff had a touching statement when her previous rescue dog, Dubois passed away. “Honestly I would take the pain of losing you 10x over to have had you for even a quarter of that time my Dybie,” she said. “First of all…thank you…for being my best friend…truly.”
Senior Dogs
Losing a pet is tough for anyone, especially one you’ve adopted and grown to love. Early in 2018, Duff went out and adopted a senior dog this time around. She’s a French Bulldog named Peaches.
And it’s even sweeter that she’s older because the senior dogs usually get overlooked by potential adopters.
Taking On New Responsibilities
Who knew Zac Efron had such a soft spot? The former Disney star is into adopting pets too, he just has to meet them first. When he went to a boutique and saw his future best friend, he couldn’t resist.
Zac Who?
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“Tilly now MACA was being led to the kill room when we stepped in and said we would take her,” the boutique’s Instagram account reads. “She was turned around and brought to us!
This guy named Zac Efron came in (we hear he is an actor, but we think he actually waits tables) came in and fell in love.”
New Pooch In Town For Miley!
Not only does Miley Cyrus adopt dogs, but she also brings in cats and even pigs. In 2015, Cyrus made a new addition to the family when she adopted a pit bull named Milky. Milky got his name after her new song at the time, “Milky Milky Milk.”
“Meet my newest family member #Milky #adoptdontshop#peaceforpits,” the star wrote on her Instagram post. With a hashtag like ‘peace for pits,’ you can bet Cyrus just wants the negative stigma attached to pit bulls to end.
Giving Back To The Fans
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Some celebrities feel like they owe everything to their fans, which is why so many of them want to give back and find ways to show their appreciation.
Whether it’s answering a direct message on social media or showing up to be someone’s date for the night, there are few things that some celebrities won’t do in order to give back to their fans.
See the length that these celebrities went to just to show their appreciation for their fans. Seeing how thankful these fans were in return is an added bonus.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Helped Out A Fan Suffering From Depression
While preparing for one of the Terminator films, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger posted a picture of himself working out during a Reddit AMA.
This inspired one Reddit user named Ali to comment, ” I know this is pandering but, I’ve been depressed for months and haven’t hit the gym in that time. Mr. Schwarzenegger, can you please tell me to get off my lazy and get to the gym? I swear to everything I hold dear that I will snap out of it and go.”
A Very Kind Response
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Amazingly, Schwarzenegger responded with kind words of encouragement saying, “I’m not going to be that hard on you. Please don’t be that hard on yourself One step at a time but don’t beat yourself up.”
Not only did Schwarzenegger help Ali, but likely others who read the thread and were dealing with similar feelings.
Martin Garrix Didn’t Want His Fan To Miss The Show So He Bought Him A Plane Ticket
When a fan bought his ticket to see DJ Martin Garrix in Amsterdam, he realized that he might not be able to go because of the price of plane tickets. So, he reached out to Garrix and told him the situation. Garrix responded by happily buying him a plane ticket for the way back.
Just Ask!
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The fan, Chris McPhadden, says:
“I bought the tickets when they first went on sale because I was afraid they would sell out. But I went to Sziget in Budapest in August and traveled America in September, and the flights had gone up 300 euros, and I couldn’t afford them anymore, so I chanced my luck with Martin.”
Zac Efron Helped Out An Overly Excited Fan After He Broke His Phone
When an excited fan broke his phone while trying to take a picture of Zac Efron, Efron was there to help him out. On Instagram, the High School Musical star posted a photo of him with his fan and his broken phone.
Yes, We Get Excited
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He captioned the image saying “This is what I love about my fans – when they get excited, but @dopekid_23 actually smashed his phone while chasing me for a snapchat – that’s dedication so I’ma hook you up with a new phone my brother!
To all my fans out there holdin’ it down – love and respect. And be careful with your phones.” We wonder if people are going around breaking their phones in front of Efron now…
Eminem Visited A Terminally Ill Fan
A few years back, an Eminem-obsessed fan was unfortunately diagnosed with a terminal illness and given just a short amount of time to live.
In an attempt to fulfill his lifelong dream of meeting Eminem, his family and friends took to Twitter and started the hashtag #GetGageGarmoToMeetEminem.
A Private Visit
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While Eminem could have made a big deal out of the situation in order to improve his image, instead, he went to meet the fan quietly. He visited his house in Michigan and spent two hours with him just hanging out and spending quality time with him.
Cody Simpson Gave A Fan Wild Night Out
Singer Cody Simpson turned one fan’s dream into a reality. Victoria was sick with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and requested to meet Cody Simpson through Make-A-Wish foundation. Approaching Valentine’s day, Simpson went above-and-beyond when he showed up to meet Victoria.
Angel
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Not only did Simpson meet Victoria, he took her to one of his concerts, showered her with presents, and spent some serious one-on-one time backstage.
As if that wasn’t enough, towards the end of his show, he brought her out on stage and sang the song “Angel” to her directly. Victoria definitely got the full experience with Cody Simpson.
Harry Styles Sent His Love To a Sick Fan
When a sick young girl named Campbell Hoyt announced that he wanted to meet Harry Styles, people on Twitter helped to bring it to Harry Styles attention.
Before ever meeting him, Harry took to Twitter and wrote “Campbell Hoyt, I am thinking of you and sending you all of the love in the world. That’s a lot of love. H.”
Hanging Out Together
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On top of that, Harry also invited her and her family to come see one of his shows. However, Harry made sure to visit Campbell at her home so they could hang out alone before his show.
Lady Gaga Keeps Her Fans From Going Hungry
Lady Gaga refers to her fans as “Little Monsters,” and has always shown appreciation for them and all of their support. In order to remind them how much she cares, she’s always active on social media, responding to fans and acting like a friend rather than a celebrity.
Little Monsters
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On one occasion, in 2009, a group of “Little Monsters” were camped out in front of Best Buy in anticipation for the release her next album, Fame Monster. To show her appreciation, Lady Gaga spent $1,000 on pizza so that her fans didn’t go hungry while waiting.
Ellen Page Loves Her Fan’s Pets
Actress Ellen Page loves getting to know her fans on social media, and she likes getting to know her fan’s pets even more! Page is known for being very active on Twitter and likes helping to name her fan’s pets.
All you have to do is send a picture to her and she often replies with a few suggestions.
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However, this isn’t all she does on Twitter, she’s well-known to try and answer any of her fans questions, or just have a friendly conversation. So, if you send her a Tweet, you might hear back from her.
Tom Hanks Is As Good As They Come
On an average day in New York, a local cab driver picked up Tom Hanks without noticing who he was. Eventually, he came to the realization and the two had a nice conversation during their drive together.
Hanks even gave the driver the nickname “Mr. Ferrari,” because of his hat and occupation.
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After the driver dropped off Hanks, the two said their goodbyes and went on their way. Then, one day, the driver received a text message from a number of a previous passenger. It was from Tom Hanks inviting him to visit him backstage and see his play Lucky Guy.
Beyonce Tracked Down Some Fans To Work With Them
Before they became famous, Laurent and Larry Bourgeois or the Les Twins released a video of them on YouTube dancing to a Beyonce song. Beyonce was beyond impressed and made it her mission to track the two boys down in order to work with them.
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The three of them eventually did work together, showing the lengths Beyonce is willing to go to meet and help inspire her fans.
This isn’t unusual, as Beyonce is frequently making special appearances at karaoke clubs or going out of her way to meet her fans.
Rihanna Gives Relationship Advice Sometimes
Sometimes, when you reach out to celebrities, they’ll reply and even give you some words of inspiration. This was the case for one girl that direct messaged Rihanna saying “Hey Robs….how did you get over your first breakup?…I’ve been struggling.”
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After a few hours, Rihanna replied saying “Just believe that the heartbreak was a gift in itself! Cry if you have to, but it won’t be forever! You’ll find love again, and it will be even more beautiful! In the meantime enjoy all that YOU are!!!”
Must be nice to have Rihanna sending you comforting words!
Miley Cyrus Flew Gave One Of Her Fans A Job
Miley Cyrus is not afraid to use her voice to speak on political issues such as immigration, Planned Parenthood, or LGBTQ rights.
She doesn’t just care about her fans but for all people and has even donated half a million dollars to AIDS research at the amfAR LA Inspiration Gala. Of course, she shows some love to her fans too.
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In one instance, she told Jimmy Kimmel that she was so impressed with a fan’s social media skills and knowledge of the industry that she flew her out to live with her mom and work with her for an entire summer.
Bon Jovi Surprised A Fan At Her Wedding Day
Back in 2016, Bon Jovi fan Branka Delic planned to have her wedding in Las Vegas around the same time that Bon Jovi would be there for his Because We Can tour. In the days before her wedding, Delic started a petition and messaged him, pleading him to come to her wedding.
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Unbelievably, he showed up and even walked her down the aisle. Apparently, he likes surprising his fans and will wear disguises, only to reveal himself to be the rock legend, Bon Jovi.
He also took a long-time fan that was battling stage four cancer of out to a private dinner and hung out with her family for hours afterward.
Amy Schumer Was Generous With Her Tip
Back in 2015, comedian Amy Schumer was enjoying a meal when she decided to help her server out a little bit. After connecting with her server, she decided to give her a $500 tip, over 1,000 percent more than her actual bill. Schumer ordered a cup of soup and a few appetizers.
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Amy said that she shared an “engaging and animated” conversation with the server who was describing what it was like to work two jobs and pay your way through school. Amy remembered what it was like to not have much, so she decided to help the server out.
Chris Pratt Showed A Special Screening Of His Movie
It’s no secret that Chris Pratt is adored by his fans, and for good reason. He loves interacting with his fans and is always willing to stop and say hi.
If you already didn’t like him enough, in 2014, he visited a children’s hospital where he dressed up as his character from Guardians Of The Galaxy and held a screening for the kids and their families.
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After the movie, he spent three hours handing out toys to kids and some spent some extra time with a kid known as “Lego Kid” who recognized his voice from The Lego Movie.
Mila Kunis Went Out On A Date With A Fan
In 2011, Sgt. Scott Moore was thousands of miles away during a deployment in Afghanistan. There, he created a YouTube account and sent a video to Mila Kunis, asking if she would accompany him as his date for the Marine Corps Ball.
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Luckily for Sgt. Moore, Kunis responded and agreed, and the two went together to the ball in Greenville, North Carolina. It sounds like Sgt. Moore had the last laugh when he showed up with Kunis on his arm at the ball.
Surely, he was made fun of by his friends thinking that Kunis would agree to be his date.
Channing Tatum Made A Girl’s Dreams Come True
After being diagnosed with a stage-4 brain tumor, 18-year-old Alisa Finley had the opportunity to start making a few of her dreams a reality. Her first request was to be kissed by Channing Tatum. When Tatum heard about Alisa’s request, he had no problem making her dreams come true.
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Although he didn’t fly out and give her a smooch, he sent her a video of him blowing a kiss to her. He and his wife then sang Pharrell Williams song “Happy” on camera while they were attending the 2014 Oscars.
Not every girl can say that Channing Tatum blew them a kiss, we wonder if he’s had that request before?
Ed Sheeran Sang To A Fan In Her Final Moments
After teenager Triona Priestley’s cystic fibrosis worsened, her friends and family started a Twitter campaign to help her meet her idol, Ed Sheeran.
Using the hashtag #SongForTri, Ed Sheeran took notice of the campaign and offered to give her a call. Sheeran’s management organized a phone call at a bittersweet time.
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He ended up singing the song “Little Bird” to her as she was taking her last breaths. Ed came out to say that the whole situation was very touching and later went on Twitter to say, “Rest in peace Triona, so heartbreaking.”
Zach Galifianakis Turned a Homeless Woman Into A Star
Over 20 years ago, Zach Galifianakis, an aspiring young actor, met an eccentric old homeless woman named Marie “Mimi” Haist. While in a laundromat where Mimi lived at the time, she taught Galifianakis to do his laundry.
Decades later, Galifianakis took an interest in the woman’s life story and along with director Yaniv Rokah, made a movie about her life starring himself and Renee Zellweger.
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The proceeds from the film helped to get Mimi and apartment, furniture, an off the streets for good. He even took Mimi to the premiere of The Hangover III where she was Galifianakis’ date, getting her first taste of the life of a celebrity.
John Cena Has Made Over 500 Wishes Come True
