Los Angeles — Gorgeous Twilight saga actor Kellan Lutz—known to many fans as the studly vampire Emmett Cullen—reveals his softer side in a new ad for peta2, the world’s largest youth animal rights organization. Part of peta2’s “Adopt, Don’t Buy” campaign, the ad shows Lutz hugging his rescued mixed-breed dog Kola and reads, “Buying Animals Is Killing Animals. Save a Homeless Dog or Cat—Always Adopt and Never Buy.” The ad, which can be seen here, was shot by top celebrity photographer Collin Stark.

“I love mutts!” gushed Lutz in an exclusive interview with peta2. “If anything, I think mutts stay the healthiest.” Lutz also addressed the animal-overpopulation crisis. “There are surprisingly so many animals, so many animals in these animal shelters,” he said. “It’s sad, and knowing that they get euthanized … and there’s a lot you can do … spay or neuter your pets so that doesn’t happen.”

Almost 8 million unwanted dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year in the U.S., and half of them must be euthanized simply because there aren’t enough good homes. Buying an animal from a pet store or breeder robs a homeless animal of a chance at adoption and encourages sellers to acquire more purebred animals. Lutz, a big fan of mutts, encourages “Twilighters” to adopt.

Lutz is the latest celebrity to join peta2 in speaking up for animals. Visitors to peta2.com can find interviews with all their favorite bands and celebrities—including Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship’s Gabe Saporta, Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy,hellogoodbye, Steve-O, Khloe Kardashian, Audrina Patridge, and Pink—and enter contests to win great prizes such as iPods and concert tickets.

For more information or to see Kellan Lutz’s ad and exclusive interview, please visit peta2.com.