Show love for animals! Rescue and Freedom Project is a non-profit that saves animals all around the globe from laboratory experiments, hoarding cases, meat trade, unique captivity and cruelty, and death row. With their dedication and hard work, it’s no surprise that celeb animal lovers like Katy Perry, Sia and Andy Cohen support their mission.
The organization recently opened a Rescue and Outreach Center in Agoura Hills, California. Shannon Keith, the founder and president of Rescue and Freedom Project, sat down with Us Weekly to talk about what the space hopes to accomplish.
“The Rescue and Outreach Center (ROC) will serve as many things including a rehabilitation center, an animal sanctuary, an education and a place for animals and humans to come together and heal one another,” Keith says.
And rehabilitation is one of their main goals. “We only rescue animals from severe abuse who have been experimented on, rescued from meat trade and the subject of other forms of imprisonment and abuse,” she explains. “This is a healing center and sanctuary for the animals and they won’t live here forever: they will be rehabilitated and then adopted into homes.”
And to make sure they are ready to be adopted, the non-profit has helped the animals with a music healing program. “For many of these animals, just the sight of a person causes them to go into a panic, for others, it is certain sounds. …We will work to transform these animals into the beings they were always meant to be!”
Keith is hoping her enthusiasm about the new venture spreads to others. “We want people to get excited about switching to a cruelty-free lifestyle. We hope touring the facility and meeting our animal survivors will inspire people to start being compassionate consumers. We want them to make a connection that animals used in research are just like the ones they love at home,” she says.
And whether you’re a celebrity or not — or can’t make the visit to the facility — Keith says you can still do your part to help. She notes: “You can always donate, switch to a cruelty-free lifestyle, sponsor an animal or an entire rescue.”
