(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jean-Claude Van Damme loves adopting disabled dogs from all over the world and taking care of them.

The Belgian actor, who is renowned for his hard-man image, has revealed a soft spot for canines especially those that are disadvantaged, maimed or missing a leg.

The 50-year-old star divulged that he collects needy dogs in whatever city he happens to be filming in at the time.

I live in Hong Kong, but right now Im in Belgium in the land of my doggies. I adopt dogs all over the world when I go on location, he told the Australian radio programme the Kyle and Jackie O Show. I have one that has three legs, and a handicapped one with a wheelchair from Thailand, you know, those types of dogs.

However the action man is very serious about taking care of his petswelfare, and does not just shelter the animals to create a good image for himself.

Jean-Claude said that he would never dream of giving the dogs away after a short period of time, because that would have even worse consequences for the poor creatures.

Its for life, he said adamantly. If you give the dog away even a month later it is a disaster.

Jean-Claude is currently filming a reality television show about his life, tracking his childhood in Belgium and his love of dogs to his rise to stardom as an action hero on the big screen.

The athletic man confessed he wants to reach out to the public and convey his true nature via the programme.

I am doing a TV show right now, a reality ITV show for ITV, where they are following me with a camera and they are talking about those dogs and my family and my past history going from Belgium all the way up, my rock and roll life and all that, Jean Claude said. Then after that, when we know what is me, I am going to try and get a relationship with the audience. (C) Cover Media