Ollie and Maggie
Dave Bautista has two Pitbulls named Ollie and Maggie. He adopted the pair together as they were already bonded. They were 6 years old at the time of adoption. They had been “neglected and abandoned” for many years before they were rescued. David was so excited to welcome them into his life, stating that “I needed them, they needed me.”
Penny
David rescued Penny when she was three months old after she had been horribly abused. She was adopted from the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and immediately underwent surgery to remove a metal chain that was embedded into her neck. She has since fully recovered and is being spoiled with love and affection in her new home. In an attempt to arrest Penny’s abuser, David offered $5,000 in cash to anyone who could provide information. “For me, nothing is as innocent and pure as a puppy,” Bautista said in a Humane Society interview.
Talulah
Dave Bautista adopted Talulah, his fourth rescued Pitbull, on Valentine’s Day, 2023.
Sadie
Dave Bautista had an adopted Pitbull named Sadie that passed away in April 2019. She was the oldest of his original trio of rescued with Frankie and Janie.
Janie
Dave Bautista had a rescued Catahoula Leopard dog name Janie that passed away in 2019. Janie was a forever puppy and had tons of energy. The Catahoula breed is the state dog of Louisiana and is known as a strong, hound-like breed that works in forests and swamps. Bautista got a tattoo of Janie in memory of her passing.
Frankie
Dave Bautista had a rescue Pitbull named Frankie that passed away in March 2022. Bautista says Frankie acted like an old man, usually quiet but can be quite grouchy.
The day I’ve been dreading is coming but today was a good day. He ate. He peed on everything. He barked at people walking by. I love this little dude and if you see me smiling in films it’s usually because I’m thinking of him. His face is tattooed on my leg so one way or another he will be with me forever. Our last day together was a good day. I love you #FrankieBautista
@davebautista, Instagram, March 2022
Pitbull Tattoos
Dave Bautista has tattoos on his leg of his pitbulls Frankie, Sadie, and Janie that have passed away. He plans to add the rest of his dogs until his leg is a full sleeve of his dogs.
Rescue Dog and Adoption Advocacy
Dave Bautista is very vocal about his love of rescue dogs and the importance of adoption, with many of his Instagram posts about these two topics. Some of his advocacy work includes sharing his adoption story to promote “Adopt a Shelter Pet Day.” He also teamed up with Drew Barrymore to promote the ASPCA’s The Rescue Effect.
Dave Bautista
Dave Bautista is an American actor and retired professional wrestler, best known for his portrayal of Drax the Destroyer in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and his multiple stints in WWE. A significant portion of Bautista’s fame stems from his acting career, which kickstarted in 2006 and has since spanned a series of influential films. His work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Drax the Destroyer, beginning with “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and culminating in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (2023), is particularly noteworthy. Beyond the MCU, Bautista has starred in films like “The Man with the Iron Fists” (2012), “Riddick” (2013), “Spectre” (2015), and “Blade Runner 2049” (2017). His more recent roles include “Army of the Dead” (2021), “Dune” (2021), “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” (2022), and “Knock at the Cabin” (2023).
Throughout his career, Bautista has shared the screen and the wrestling ring with a plethora of notable figures. His time in WWE led to collaborations with wrestling heavyweights such as Triple H, Ric Flair, and Randy Orton, with whom he formed the heel stable Evolution. His acting career has seen him work with directors like James Gunn in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and Denis Villeneuve in “Blade Runner 2049” and “Dune.” He has also starred alongside fellow actors like Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, and Vin Diesel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling in “Blade Runner 2049”.
