Rourke's new role? PETA poster boy

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. actor Mickey Rourke appears with his Chihuahua, Jaws, in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' new spay and neuter ad campaign.

"Have the cojones to fix your dog," Rourke, pictured holding Jaws in his arms, says in the print ad. "When dogs get knocked up, puppies get put down because there aren't enough homes for them."

"I became a little more aware of how many dogs are abandoned or put to sleep each week -- it's staggering," People.com quoted "The Wrestler" star as saying in a video posted on PETA's Web site.

Rourke famously thanked all of his dogs -- "the ones that are here and the ones that aren't here anymore" -- when he took the stage to accept his Golden Globe for best actor Sunday night.

"Sometimes when a man is alone, that's all you've got is your dog," he noted. "They meant the world to me."