Actor Torrey DeVitto Treats PAWS Dogs and Cats with an Abundance of Love
Sep 07, 2021
By Ann Cutaia
It’s 3 p.m. on a Saturday, but she’s already been hard at work for seven hours. As has become common for her since being cast in a lead role as Dr. Natalie Manning on NBC’s Chicago Med, Torrey DeVitto is wearing protective medical scrubs, but this time she’s not acting. She picks up a syringe, filled with moist cat food, and gingerly holds a handsome, young, orange tabby in her arms. DeVitto has been involved with PAWS ever since she began her role on Chicago Med in 2015. “I wanted to spend more time around animals and give back,” Torrey said. “I just love PAWS’ philosophy and how many lives they are able to save.”
Torrey’s interest in animal welfare began long before she was saving lives on NBC and before her partnership with PAWS. It commenced, fittingly, with her first pet— a dove given to her as a child by musician Stevie Nicks. Nicks is longtime friends with DeVitto’s mother, who quickly realized that you kind of just go with it when Stevie Nicks gifts your daughter a bird of peace. This loving gift planted a seed in Torrey’s heart that blossomed into a deep love and appreciation for animals.
“Since I was very young, rescuing animals and being mindful of the treatment of animals has always been very important to me,” Torrey said. In fact, her first rescue animal was an impromptu but inspired effort to save a neglected love bird from the home of a new violin teacher—who quickly became her old violin teacher! “She kept the bird in a covered cage on the floor and kept kicking the cage and telling the bird to be quiet. I was so horrified that I asked my mom to help me save the bird. We walked back up to the house and said, ‘If you hate your bird so much, do you mind if we take it?’ I was so happy when we carried that bird home!”
DeVitto’s acting career involves a similar touch of serendipity. At age 15, when Torrey’s mother enrolled her in an acting class in Orlando as a confidence builder, she immediately knew it was the career she wanted to pursue full-time. Since then, Torrey has built an impressive resume of acting credits in both TV and film. A winding road, which began with the role of “Girl #1 on Dawson’s Creek,” later found Torrey living and working in Chicago, representing the city on Chicago Med as Dr. Manning, before recently ending her run on the show to join the cast of upcoming film Skelly.
“I love my character,” DeVitto said when speaking about her role on Chicago Med. “I love how well the writers write for her. I really feel that through my character, I get to speak on so many important topics. My character has spoken on gun violence, immigration, women’s rights, and more. I am always so proud to be on this show.”
Torrey’s excitement is transparent when she talks about not only the writing of Chicago Med, but also the setting. She fell in love with the backdrop of the show. “The city definitely feels like home now.”
TORREY’S PACK
Helping Torrey settle into her adopted city are her three adopted dogs, Beau, Homie, and Twiggy. Torrey adopted Beau, a senior Chihuahua mix, at an adoption event in Venice, California. Later, she adopted Homie, a stray poodle-terrier mix in need of a loving home after barely surviving being hit by a car.
At PAWS Chicago’s 2019 Fur Ball, Torrey fell in love with yet another poodle mix named Twiggy! It was love at first sight for the pair, and 12-year-old Twiggy settled in nicely with Torrey’s pack at home. When DeVitto adopted the senior dog, the pup had been suffering from extensive medical issues, including surgical removal of multiple masses.
“My dogs mean so much to me!” Torrey said. “I don’t know what I would do without them. They are the little loves of my life. They have been through every up and down with me. Anytime I am sad, it’s like they know, and they know exactly what to do to cheer me up. They are the absolute best.”
Torrey is a strong animal welfare advocate, and she knew she wanted to continue her philanthropic work in Chicago. She identified PAWS Chicago as an organization with which she could volunteer.
She found PAWS and immediately connected with the mission and work. “The thing that really struck me today and about PAWS in general is just how transparent they are,” she said. “You know, you hear about a lot of shelters who maybe have a different face that they show to the world, and the inner workings are just really sad and kind of bring you to your knees because they don’t really give a lot of animals the chance that they deserve. And here at PAWS, there’s nothing hidden. It’s very light and bright,” she continued.
Her role at PAWS has been critical in fundraising to make Chicago a No Kill community, but she’s more than just a face on the cover of a magazine. She also comes in to do the work. This clean-eating vegetarian isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty if that means she’s aiding in our lifesaving pursuit. “I just love PAWS’ solutions-based approach and how many lives they are able to save,” said DeVitto.
Inspiring those around her, DeVitto shares PAWS Chicago’s goal when it comes to animals—save every healthy and treatable pet.