Katherine Heigl made a rare public appearance for a dog rescue event at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago summer white house.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ actress Katherine Heigl participates in a Mar-a-Lago fundraiser
Actress Katherine Heigl from ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” attends the Big Dog Ranch fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
PALM BEACH — Katherine Heigl made a rare public appearance at President Donald Trump’s Summer White House, Mar-a-Lago.
The 47-year-old former Grey’s Anatomy star joined fellow TV stars and fashion designers at a private resort to help Big Dog Ranch Rescue raise $5.5 million over a three-day fundraiser.
Heigl said she joined to support Big Dog, which has rescued more than 88,000 dogs since 2008. Heigl said Big Dog’s work to “solve the problem of pet overpopulation” aligns with his family’s foundation, which he runs with his mother, Nancy.
Heigl, who has rarely been seen in public since running as rom-com queen in the mid-2000s, has not been open about her politics, so her appearance at Trump’s property may just be a coincidence.
“Our biggest goal right now is to actually reduce the amount of unwanted trash coming into this country. That’s what’s causing our shelters to be overcrowded,” Heigl told the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“We hear the word ‘shelter’ and think these animals are safe there, but that’s not the case. It’s not the shelter’s fault, it’s not the shelter employees’ fault. Our country is full of puppy mill breeders,” she continued.
A new federal “strike force,” with the president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump as honorary co-chair, is working with the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Agriculture to help spearhead a crackdown on the “bad actors” in the breeding industry.
Another MAGA figure, Jeanine Pirro, a former Fox News host and current U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, also attended, calling Big Dog a “go-to” organization.
Pirro, who runs four rescues, said his organization is “committed to making sure” that dogs rescued from certain euthanasias at shelters find homes. But she also highlighted the organization’s Veteran Service Dog Training Program, which has paired more than 200 service dogs with U.S. military veterans living with PTSD and other disabilities.
“We’re seeing tangible results,” Pirro said of Big Dog Ranch. “There are people who adopt dogs. There are people who donate money when there’s an emergency and the dog needs surgery. This is real, it’s effective, and it’s important.”
TV personality Cesar Millan, a dog rehabilitator and trainer, was also invited to the event. Milan emphasized that human error and negligence are the reason why dogs end up in shelters. He encouraged the public to “serve” and pointed out that there are many ways to help.
“Everyone can help,” he told the Palm Beach Post. “You can also adopt a rescued dog. You can also adopt a dog. You can also volunteer to walk dogs at shelters or clean kennels. This is a group activity where everyone can help in some way.”
Simmons agreed, saying, “I love the fact that there are so many animal lovers out there” who want to support Big Dog’s efforts and programs.
“Most importantly, we need to spread awareness because 80% of Americans have no idea how many incredible adoptable family dogs die in shelters simply because they are overwhelmed and overcrowded,” she said. “This problem can be resolved.”
