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david duchovny

Actor David Duchovny and his rescue dog, Brick, have a very close relationship.

They spend afternoons lounging around, not a care in the world.

They explore the world together (because is there a better travel companion than this furry fella?).



They certainly celebrate the holiday season in style, too.

And yes, they even lick peanut butter off each other's lips.

Weird? Maybe. But it's for a great cause.

GIF via Target Zero/YouTube.

The sloppy peanut butter kisses are part of the #LickMyFace challenge, which launched this week.

The premise is simple, a little absurd, and ... very messy.

1. Put peanut butter on your lips.

2. Put your face near your dog's face.

3. Let your dog have at it.

4. Count how many wet ones your dog gives you.

5. Give that dollar amount to Target Zero, a nonprofit dedicated to saving the lives of rescue dogs.

6. Challenge your friends to do the same.

GIF via Target Zero/YouTube.

"To really get this going, I'm challenging all of you, my social media followers," Duchovny says in a video announcing the challenge, encouraging others to participate and donate, using the hashtag #LickMyFace to promote efforts.

He also made sure to specifically invite his ex-wife, actress Tea Leoni, as well as "X-Files" co-star Gillian Anderson, to compete.

Anderson, by the way, clearly isn't afraid of a slobbery challenge; she stepped up to the plate right away:

Target Zero is one amazing group that's definitely deserving of the attention and extra funds.

The group helps shelters learn the best practices in becoming "zero kill" shelters, which means they will no longer euthanize any healthy pups due to avoidable factors, like overcrowding in their facilities.

That way, pups like Brick can find their way into a forever home.

The nonprofit, for instance, helped the public shelter in Waco, Texas, reduce its kill rate dramatically since 2012, The Huffington Post reported. By the end of last year, over 90% of its animals were being saved, thanks in large part to Target Zero.

There are very few reasons anyone should record themselves while their dog licks peanut butter off their lips and put it on the internet. But if there's ever been a good reason to do so, saving animals is it.

"I've thrown down the challenge: You must accept now," Duchovny says in the video below. "Let's save a ton of shelter animals together, one lick at a time."

Watch Duchovny and Brick complete the #LickMyFace challenge below: