New York, Nov 14 (IANS): Actress Denise Richards has taken in a new shelter puppy after touring a section of Hurricane Sandy's disaster relief area here.

In a post on Twitter she posted, "Heading to an animal shelter, to help out. Over 600 rescued from the hurricane. My girls are coming to help too."

And the mum of three was so enamoured with one particular little pooch, a black Labrador Retriever mix named Tara, Richards adopted the mutt on the spot.

She headed to Long Island Saturday to work at the North Shore Animal League America, which was bombarded with an influx of abandoned pets following last month's post-tropical cyclone.

A message on the organisation's Facebook page reads, "During their visit Denise and her family fell in love with Tara the Labrador Mutt-i-gree puppy and welcomed her into their home!"

The 4- year-old has always been a dog lover, she previously told people.com, "I swear, if there's a dog stranded somewhere, he finds my car, and he finds me. If anyone is looking to get a dog, they ask, 'Can you help me?'"