NEW YORK: Oscar winner Hilary Swank is putting her role as an animal lover to good use - she is backing a new scheme to rehouse unwanted pets.

The Boys Don't Cry star has been named an ambassador for the Home 4 the IAMS Holidays Pet Adoption Campaign, which aims to help find new owners for animals in shelters.

The actress says, "I'm so proud to be working to help raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption. Last year, the program's adoption goal was to get one million pets adopted in just three months, but this year the goal is even bigger.

"We're on a mission to find loving homes for 1.5 million orphaned pets between October 1st and January 4th."

The star has adopted many pets throughout her life, most recently her two dogs, Karoo and Rumi. Swank rescued Karoo from the side of a road in South Africa and adopted Rumi from a shelter in Los Angeles.