One of the goals of 'Vampire Diaries' star Ian Somerhalder's namesake foundation is to "positively impact the planet and its creatures." And now the known animal lover has a new member of the family.

Last week, Ian posted the photo above to Instagram along with this story:

My new girl. Rescued from traffic near the Vampire Diaries stages just a few hours ago - so smart, so beautiful & charming - all a man could ask for in a girl - So happy together. Her name is Nietzsche ... Photo by the one and only @thejram

Nietzsche joins Ian's existing pet family (last we heard, it includes another dog and at least one cat).

The actor's animal advocacy extends beyond his foundation and adopting strays, though -- back in May, he even risked the known wrath of Beliebers on Twitter when he took Justin Bieber to task for abandoning his Capuchin monkey Mally in Germany:

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