Not All Heroes Wear Capes! Man Celebrates His 1,000th Animal Rescue in a PETA T-Shirt

Wading through dangerous floodwaters and responding to urgent calls 24/7 is business as usual for this man. A part of PETA’s rescue team, Chris Klug has faced hurricanes, blizzards, and scorching summer heat to spare animals from life-threatening danger—and as this new PETA video shows, he has reached a major milestone: 1,000 rescued animals.

From Fishing Gear to Floodwater, Chris and PETA’s Rescue Team Do Everything They Can to Help Animals

Chris takes action to help animals of all species, including a pelican hopelessly tangled in discarded fishing gear, sheep on the verge of starvation, and dozens of dogs forced to spend their entire lives on the end of a heavy chain.

In the aftermath of the devastating Baton Rouge Flooding of 2016, he rescued animals in rising floodwater and was there to help during hurricanes Harvey, Florence, and Helene. No matter the danger, Chris steadfastly helps reunite stranded animals with their guardians and delivers critical supplies to affected communities.

As a PETA fieldworker since 2015, Chris works to improve the lives of neglected animals in some of the poorest communities in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina, where animals have nobody else to help them. Every day, he:

• Provides chained dogs who don’t have adequate protection from the elements with sturdy, custom-built wooden doghouses and lightweight tie-outs.
• Cleans and fills algae-covered, frozen, or empty water buckets.
• Provides food for famished dogs whose “owners” often just throw old kibble or scraps on the ground.
• Treats flea and tick infestations, medicates ears bloodied from flystrike, and more.

Chris Goes the Extra Mile for Dogs Like Rusty, or 1,814 Miles if Anyone’s Counting

One of the dogs Chris helped was Rusty, a senior dog kept tethered outdoors 24/7 for nearly a decade. Over the years, Chris did everything he could to make Rusty’s life better. His persistence paid off late last year, when Rusty’s owner finally agreed to let PETA find him a new home.

Chris personally drove Rusty to his new adoptive guardian in West Palm Beach, Florida. Thanks to Chris and PETA’s team, Rusty is now spending his golden years safe and warm inside as a beloved family member.

How You Can Help PETA Rescue Animals

Chris lives with his partner Emily and adopted canine companion Lucy. Lucy used to be tethered outdoors around the clock until PETA’s rescue team saved her. Chris says Lucy is now “the queen of the house,” and spends her days comfortably indoors with plenty of long walks and camping trips to enjoy.

YOU can join Chris and make a difference for animals by:

• Pledging to adopt, never buy, animal companions.
• Always having animal companions spayed or neutered.
• Encouraging local legislatures to pass laws that boost animal-care standards, like banning tethering, breeding, and selling animals in “pet” stores.
• Volunteering at your local shelter.
• Reporting animal abuse to law enforcement. If they can’t help, contact PETA.