Ian Somerhalder to Create Animal Sanctuary

Need yet another reason to love actor and activist Ian Somerhalder (you know, besides those eyes and that big heart)? Here ya go.

As you probably know by now, in addition to steaming up TVs every week on “The Vampire Diaries,” Somerhalder has quickly established himself as one of the greenest celebs in the business.

From his charitable organization to his dedication to cleaning up the planet to his compassion for animals, Somerhalder is on a mission to make the world a better place.

And he’s not done yet.

Now the actor is planning to establish a sanctuary for animals with behavioral problems. Somerhalder is in the process of purchasing a farm in his home state of Louisiana, and at least part of it will be dedicated to creating the eco-friendly retreat.

In conjunction with the project, he’s working with his foundation to establish a program to help human bullies “work through their issues” by interacting with the animals.

He told E! News about the project, saying, ”It’s all about collaboration and compassion. If you can empower someone who’s really young, who’s had a really tough go at it, to find compassion by using animals — because it’s so much easier than with people — then you have something. Now you’ve started to engage these kids and they’ll learn not to fight. They really realize what a full life you can have if you just get rid of those demons that we all have.”

So in addition to saving animals, he saves humans now, too. Feel free to swoon.

Photo credit: Flickr/Creative Commons

Read more: Adoptable pets, Celebrities, Do Good, Pets