'Animals Don't Vote' - Katherine Heigl Defends Appearance at Mar-a-Lago Animal Rescue Event
Katherine Heigl used her first red carpet appearance in two years to highlight a cause close to her heart.
The 47-year-old actress attended the Wine, Women & Shoes annual fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on March 8, focusing on animal advocacy.
“Animals don’t vote,” Heigl told JustJared. “The only room they don’t like is the euthanasia room at a shelter.
They are completely at the mercy of us and have no voice of their own.” She described the event as deeply personal, noting that she and her mother, Nancy, have spent years supporting animals through the Jason Heigl Foundation.
Heigl emphasized, “Protecting animals is one of my greatest passions. As a society, we should come together to protect the voiceless and the innocent. This should not be a polarizing issue.”
Organizers reported that the three-day event raised $5.5 million for Big Dog Ranch Rescue, the largest no-kill dog rescue in the United States.
Founder Lauree Simmons praised the weekend as a “heartwarming display of community spirit, uniting style enthusiasts and animal advocates for a truly monumental cause.”
Despite the success of the fundraiser, Heigl faced some criticism online. In response to her comment that “animals don’t vote,” one user wrote, “No, but if they did they would have better judgment than you!”
Heigl replied thoughtfully, asking, “Do you think comments on an Instagram post matter to animals who have had humans pour gasoline on them and set them on fire? Who have been left to starve and suffer? Actions or Instagram posturing? Seriously, I’m very curious.”
Another user suggested she support a different rescue. Heigl responded by asking whether the critic had ever visited a shelter or donated substantially to any cause, adding, “Have you done anything more than comment on what someone else is doing? Just curious…”
Other fans praised her efforts. “She👏 made👏 a👏 choice👏,” one wrote, to which Heigl responded, “Yes👏 I did👏.” She went on to encourage action, saying,
“Do you care about animals? If so, donate! Time! Money! Attention! Voice! It doesn’t matter who I am, only what I do.
"The same goes for you. Animals might not be your thing, but I bet you care deeply about something that matters. Do your part. Don’t waste your time scrolling and commenting.”
Heigl is a long-time advocate for rescue animals. In March 2022, she told PEOPLE about lobbying the Utah State legislature to pass a bill ending the use of gas chambers for euthanizing shelter animals, demonstrating her commitment to giving voice to the voiceless.
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