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Orlando Bloom Joined at the Hip with His Dog

09/14/2011 at 03:00 PM EDT

Orlando Bloom has a soft spot – for a dark and handsome furball named Sidi.

Sidi, a black Saluki mix the actor rescued while on location in Africa for Kingdom of Heaven, didn't just find a new home when he was picked up, he got a whole new lifestyle.

"I rescued this man in Morocco about seven years ago now," Bloom says in an interview with Men's Health. "He has been everywhere with me."

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Everywhere includes places like Bloom's Men's Health cover shoot, which took place on a sprawling Southern California property. "I knew we were at a ranch today so I brought him out," he says. "Thanks for having him, too."

While there, Bloom and Sidi hung out at a picnic table, sharing a bite to eat, and put their heads together for a few poses in front of the camera. For Bloom's ride on a motorcycle, Sidi stayed on the sidelines, but the actor looked ready to rev up and go.

"I want to do things that terrify me, unless they're going to kill me," he says. "Since I've had a son, I want to be around to see him grow up."

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