Ian Somerhalder and Nikki Reed have been announced as the Celebrity Monarchs of Mardi Paws, an annual parade of dressed up dogs which takes place in Mandeville, Louisiana, near where Somerhalder grew up.

The Ian Somerhalder Foundation, which focuses on animal welfare and environmental issues, will be the main beneficiary of the parade, having recently purchased 100 acres of local land to support 'the creature population, youth, and other community needs'. Somerhalder has long been a supporter of local north shore Louisiana causes, while Reed is an ambassador for the Humane Society of the United States.