Ian Somerhalder is at it again.

The animal-loving Vampire Diaries star will participate on September 22 in the Best Friends Animal Society’s Strut Your Mutt, an annual event at Park Sans Souci in Lafayette, Louisiana that is scheduled to raise money for Somerhalder's planned Animal Sanctuary.

Part of the actor's ISF initiative, the sanctuary will provide a safe haven for animals that have been neglected, mistreated, abused and misunderstood. Somerhalder talked about it in detail with TV Fanatic at last month's Comic-Con in San Diego:

“I really believe in Best Friends Animal Society and their mission of “No More Homeless Pets™”, said Somerhalder. “Their passion for helping pets really inspired me to work towards building an Animal Sanctuary through the ISF. Our sanctuary will be a safe place for all types of awesome creatures, including abused and abandoned pets.”

Aside from assisting these animals, the project will create unique opportunities for troubled teens to form compassionate relationships with those in the sanctuary.

“Youth is our most important and most under-utilized resource,” says Somerhalder. “We want to empower young people to change the planet for the better and part of that will come through watching the healing process of another living being. This is a big, beautiful, awesome dream and I know we can achieve it if we all work together!”

Visit the official ISF Animal Sanctuary website now to learn more and to donate.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.