Community Corner

Malibu Fundraiser Supports Animal Protection

The Last Chance for Animals event includes awards for activists Cindy Landon and Ady Gil.

Last Chance for Animals, a nonprofit dedicated to ending animal exploitation, recognized two activists for their efforts earlier this month during a fundraiser at the Broad Beach home of real estate developer Mike Olson.

Chris DeRose, LCA's founder, had high praise for honorees Cindy Landon and Ady Gil. He described Landon, a Malibu resident who is the widow of actor Michael Landon and a successful person in various entertainment ventures, as "the nicest and most sincere person you will ever meet."

"She has turned decades of experience in entertainment and TV syndication into philanthropic issues such as animal welfare, animal rights, helping abused children, the environment and holistic health," DeRose said.

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Landon spoke briefly after receiving the Albert Schweitzer Award.

"All animals should be free from cruelty and exploitation," she said. "They are not commodities. Everyday in laboratories, factory farms and industries across America and around the world, [animals] are subjected to horrific treatment. Cruelty at any level should never be tolerated."

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Gil, who is the co-owner of American Hi Definition and Sweetwater Digital, has dedicated a significant amount of money and time to animal rights causes, DeRose said. This includes giving more than $1 million to the Sea Shepherd so it could acquire a vessel to intervene in illegal whaling.

"He's very passionate, particularly about animal rights," DeRose said. "He is environmentally conscious as well."

Gil encouraged people in attendance to educate themselves and make good choices that do not harm animals. He said he does not expect everybody "to go cold turkey" and immediately become vegans, noting that it took him 10 years to do it. Taking baby steps, Gil said, will lead to lifestyle changes.  

"I've been to almost every awards show in this city—the Academy Awards, the Emmys, the Grammys—but this means so much more to me because I think about the animals and the work that we do and the work that we still need to do," Gil said.

He continued, "As long as there are … chickens that cannot spread their wings or there is a cow that is treated like a machine for milk, I don't think the work is done."

The event also included an auction to raise money for LCA. The organization was founded in 1984 to protest animal experiments. It continues to focus on that issue as well as pet theft, fur and circuses, but is also involved in many other animal rights causes.

For more information on LCA, including how to help, go www.lcanimal.org.

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