Actress/screenwriter LENA DUNHAM has kicked off 2013 with a new pet - she's adopted a rescue dog.

The Girls star headed to the BARC Shelter in Brooklyn on Wednesday (09Jan13), the same day she debuted the second season of her hit U.S. sitcom at a New York premiere, and chose to take home little Lamby.

Dunham uploaded a photo of herself and the pooch to her Instagram page and told fans, "Because no day is stressful enough on its own, meet Lamby Dunham. (My mother) and I sprung him this afternoon."

Speaking to reportes at the Girls launch, Dunham adds, "He's just 12 pounds of bliss. I have a feeling we're going to have a great life together. Unless you find out I've killed him in a few weeks!"