Named one of MAXIM magazine’s "hottest women in the world," actress Shannon Elizabeth is certainly renowned for her good looks. Her racy role as Nadia, the foreign exchange student in the American Pie teen comedy franchise, as well as her memorable cameo as Harriet, a.k.a. "the hot one," in the romantic comedy Love Actually, cemented this perception and no doubt sparked a few fantasies. Seems Shannon is a dream come true…for dogs, that is. An animal lover through and through, Shannon shares her bed with her six rescue dogs. Beyond that, she has started her own animal rescue organization, Animal Avengers. We caught up with the busy actress and asked her a few questions about her passions. 

Engrossed by her role as founder and president of Animal Avengers, Shannon says she is "Working on it practically every day. I’m trying to constantly solve problems, create alliances with other people, fund raise, raise awareness…the list is endless." She is hard pressed to choose her most successful rescue story. "Every time I save a life I consider it successful. It’s always such a rewarding experience to see a dog go from shaking in the corner, to licking your hand in bed, to running around and playing just like he had no bad history at all. There’s nothing like it!"

Animal Avengers, founded in 2001, came about as a result of a search for a dog for Shannon’s then-publicist. "I realized how many animals there were out there that needed help and a voice," she recalls. I wanted to do more than just give money to an organization where I didn’t know what the money was really going towards, or if I was truly helping. So I decided I wanted to do something about it. Animal Avengers is now my true baby! It means everything to me- along with my doggies!"

Her "doggies" include: Amber, age eight-ish, a Rhodesian Ridgeback/Pit Bull cross; Carmen, age seven, a Labrador Retriever/Chow cross; Katie, age two, a Boxer/Pit Bull cross; Boomer, age six, a Terrier cross; Yoda, age five, a Dachshund/Chihuahua cross; and Winnie, age one, a long-haired Chihuahua. "My dogs are my kids! They mean everything to me. [They’ve] taught me what is really important in life. I may have a bad day, but then I come home and look at their happy faces. It reminds me that everything else that happened doesn’t mean anything at the end of the day. It’s people and animals and life that are truly important!"

When she’s at home, Shannon has a lot of company. "I always have dogs sleeping on my bed with me. I have a doggie room with a TV, bed, and fridge where the ‘kids’ go when nobody’s home. I also have a great assistant now who helps me with them too, especially since I sometimes have long days at work. They eat around 5 p.m. each day. And whenever anyone’s home, they are running around the house, playing and sleeping. Usually they are right under my feet, no matter where I am in the house."

When working on set, Shannon is often accompanied by Winnie. "She loves it so much. She has this rolling bag she travels in and she jumps in it every time I’m ready to leave the house."

We asked Shannon which of her on-screen roles is most similar to her. "That’s tough," she says, "because there’s not really a role a lot like me that I’ve done yet. I try to bring a little of me into every role I do, but I haven’t really been able to turn any of my roles into girls who are vegetarian animal rescuers yet!" Her dream role? "Wonder Woman," she laughs. Seems to us she’d be well suited to it.

Watch for Shannon in her TV show, Cuts, as well as the soon-to-be released film The Kid & I. To support Animal Avengers, visit www.animalavengers.com. ■