Linda Blair addressed the news of her home being raided amid an ongoing investigation for a reported kennel operation.
“I’m checking in because I think it’s really important that I do,” the actress, 67, said in a Tuesday, August 4, Instagram video. “So, now all of you have been so amazingly, overwhelmingly supportive and you start to understand what rescues go through.”
Last week, Blair’s home was reportedly raided by 70 law enforcement officers and animal agencies to count how many animals that she houses on the premises.
“This has been quite the experience, and I look at it as a positive,” she said in the clip, revealing the silver lining. “We now have more light shed on animal welfare and animal rescue and the plight of the animals than ever before.”
Blair has worked to rescue and rehabilitate abused, neglected or abandoned animals since she founded her eponymous nonprofit, the Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation.
In recent years, the Exorcist star has also helped abandoned animals get microchipped and spayed or neutered before they find their forever home.
Blair asked for the “continued help and support” as well as “donations” so she can continue to help animals in need.
“We need donations to fight, to help the animals,” she said. “You can do that by donating on my website. You can help by supporting our store, Linda Blair Worldheart store.”
In the caption of her video, Blair added that spotlight on the work she does for animal welfare will help others “understand the horrific crisis and plight of the animals.”
“I see great change will come from this time! I take this as a positive for the Greater Good for the animals!” she wrote. “Stop animal cruelty and animal abuse! We have the ability too [sic] Live together with compassion in a cruelty free world.”
TMZ reported on Friday, July 31 that Blair had a permit to keep 60 dogs on her property. However, authorities found 200 dogs living there. None of the animals were immediately removed from Blair’s care. That same day, Blair addressed the reported raid.
“I just wanted to check in because we got a really big surprise visit,” Blair said in a Friday Instagram video. “As it turns out, there is nothing but some paperwork and some new diagrams and things. But, as everybody knows, I have been trying to move for the last two years, really. It’s imperative to my health and trying to help more animals.”
Blair added that she and the animals were doing alright following the authorities’ visit.
“I’m fine [and] the animals are fine,” Blair continued. “We just have some paperwork that has to be dealt with, and that’s all this was all about. I don’t know why mail isn’t used more often to notify somebody, just saying.”
