Between trips to the studio with Usher and preparing for the release of his debut album, My World, Justin reserved a little time to talk to us about the other thing that means as much to him as singing—you guessed it: compassion for animals. Justin's compassion started at home with his beloved pooch, Sam. "We moved to a city where we didn't really know anybody, so I kinda wanted a friend around. And Sam was kinda like that friend."

Justin's dog is his closest companion, and he encourages his fans to adopt from animal shelters. "My Dad and I used to go and hang out … just go and visit the different animals and stuff. It's really important that people adopt. I really encourage going out to an animal shelter or a place where you can get a dog that has been abandoned or doesn't have a home."

Hear more of what Justin has to say in this exclusive interview …

Learn more about Justin Bieber at PETAKids.com.