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CJ Arabia

I am sitting with actress Linda Blair in the back yard of her WorldHeart Foundation animal sanctuary, at the base of a mountain in the high desert of Southern California, just outside of Los Angeles. A worker walks by with a great, big, beautiful mutt. "That's Hank," Blair says, indicating the big dog. "He came from a hoarder. His teeth were filed down." I ask her why someone would want to file down a dog's teeth. She tells me it's done to prevent dogs from damaging each other when tossed into packs. Hank's former owner had filed down the big dog's teeth in a shed in the back of his property, without any medical supervision. But the big dog seems happy now as he shows me his smile.

Blair began rescuing dogs in 1997, following the death of her mother and two pets. Though devastated by her loss, she focused her grief into achieving something positive. "I started walking [into] shelters and rescuing anywhere from two to five dogs, putting them in a kennel, going every day to walk them and take care of them. I made signs and fliers and put them up at pet stores, handed them out. All that and working."


Blair's efforts continued to grow through 2003, when she formally established her WorldHeart Foundation. Then, in the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck. Shocked by the footage of starving, abandoned animals, Blair boarded a plane and went to Louisiana. The Katrina animal rescue operation had been forced to close, and the volunteers were given three days to remove the remaining 350 animals. With Blair's help, they were able to ship 100 dogs to one location in California, and 100 more to a behavioralist in the Midwest. Blair took the remaining 51 home with her to the WorldHeart Foundation sanctuary.

Linda explains that her main goal is to get people more active in charity and volunteer work. "Anyone can make a difference in the life of a homeless animal," Blair insists. "Animals have been chained up, no water, no home, foreclosures, the heat, the snow, no food, the sun. These animals have been deprived of human contact and affection, animal contact and affection. They need time to heal."

At Linda Blair's WorldHeart Foundation, these dogs have all the time they need.

If you are interested in adopting one of these lovable mutts, you can check them out on PetFinder.com. To learn more about how you can get involved or make a donation, visit Linda Blair's WorldHeart Foundation Web site.

    

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jon#1 jon10-22-2009 @ 4:07PM

Linda, you are a guardian angel to these beautiful animals. May your efforts be rewarded with everything wonderful a great success can bring. Jon the Moonspinner (your twit-friend)

Nikki#2 Nikki10-23-2009 @ 1:35PM

What Linda does for these dogs is fantastic. Her organization is fantastic. I really enjoy being a part of it. We need more people in the world like her. And less ignorant people in the world like you.

Joe#3 Joe10-23-2009 @ 6:15AM

Linda Blair makes me sick. Not only is she still incredibly beautiful, but she's wonderful, too!

Jim#4 Jim10-23-2009 @ 8:54AM

Linda Blair has always been beautiful. Her inner beauty has show since she was a young woman. And no, I don't mean that in any form of pedofilia. She has an aura about her that shines. She is just a wonderful person through and through...

teresa barfield#5 teresa barfield10-23-2009 @ 6:19AM

See there is really a Santa Claus :) As long as there are people that do things from the heart, the world has some reason for still existing... Thank you to Linda Blair and everyone that helps just becasue they can !!!

Jack#6 Jack10-23-2009 @ 2:35PM

I once worked for Santa Claus at a mall taking pictures. Before I was hired I had to sign a sanity clause. Believe me after 5 weeks I needed some sanity.

Bob Brown#7 Bob Brown10-23-2009 @ 8:09AM

Met Linda a coupla weeks ago at Spooky Empire Horror con. She was warm,wonderful and obviously commited to this cause. You go,girl and Linda,if you read this,is Bob still peeing on peoples feet?

Wes#8 Wes10-23-2009 @ 7:42AM

I'm a Linda Blair fan from the old school, for her talent and abundant natural beauty. Now I can add humanitarian and all-around good person to the list. Thank you for inspiring the rest of us, Linda.

maryanne#9 maryanne10-23-2009 @ 8:01AM

it's really good to see some positive action, with all the horrible things that happen in the world it's good to be reminded that good things happen too

Sharon#10 Sharon10-23-2009 @ 8:05AM

Way to go Linda. Thank God those animals have you!!!

Kerry#11 Kerry10-23-2009 @ 8:15AM

What a good lady!! Her actions speak volumes!

Elaine#12 Elaine10-23-2009 @ 8:50AM

God Bless Linda! What an example for Hollywood to follow! No drugs, no reality shows, etc.....just helping animals and being a positive light in the world. Thank you Linda for all that you do.

DBrown#13 DBrown10-23-2009 @ 9:24AM

Not true that LInda didn't walk down a decadent path. If you remember when she did the Exorcist, she was threatened for months and had to live with security stationed outside of her home for some time.
The fame of the Exorcist followed her thorughout her career for some time, and she did go down a path of drugs and alcohol. She handled it with dignity. That's the difference between her Hollywood and many others.

rhonda#14 rhonda10-23-2009 @ 9:14AM

Linda, you are a treasure...it is so sad to see abused animals and I wish I could do exactly as you are doing. Animals are so innocent all they want is love... keep up the wonderful work...

homogeneous#15 homogeneous10-23-2009 @ 9:01AM

Jesus would probably be happy to recieve one the steaks that the dogs recieve.What's for dinner huhnny?

nelsonian4d#16 nelsonian4d10-23-2009 @ 10:38AM

Buffoon, What a mind you have. And worst what toxic energy comes out of your soul.

Sunny Baine#17 Sunny Baine10-23-2009 @ 2:37PM

I am so inspired and happy there are folks like Linda Blair out there. I try to do my part here in Houston. I am interested in getting a non-profit started that could be similar to the World Heart foundation. I will email Linda directly to let her know how grateful so many of us are to have her and her kind on the planet.

To homogeneous..........uggg .... shame on you.....I hope you get motivated to do something meaningful with the life you were given.....you probably didn't know that Jesus was one of the first vegetarians. Even at the Last Supper he used bread for the symbol of flesh.

Rich#18 Rich10-23-2009 @ 9:02AM

She was an under used talent that did some fairly serious work

redreeper#19 redreeper10-23-2009 @ 9:12AM

A truly beautiful lady with a beautiful soul. Having heard her speak about animal rescue and welfare I am glad to see her featured on this page; she is the "real deal". I hope her work inspires others to get involved with local rescue and make a difference! And we thank her for all her support in greyhound rescue as well!!

nelsonian4d#20 nelsonian4d10-23-2009 @ 10:39AM

Animals, WOW they are the best. I live in a New York City, were I am able to see healthy,happy dogs all the time. People do love their pets in this big city. But I am also aware that there is a lot of neglect and abuse out there.
Linda Blair, thanks!!!... Speechless.



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