Actress from 'The Exorcist' is subject of inspection after authorities found 251 dogs in shelter

The operation took place on approximately 2.5 acres of land located in Acton, where the WorldHeart Foundation operates, an entity created by the actress in 2003 to welcome abandoned dogs and promote adoptions. According to information released by TMZ, around 70 agents from different agencies participated in the action to check the conditions of the shelter and the well-being of the animals.

The inspection was motivated by complaints from residents of the region, who reported constantly hearing barking, crying and howling from dogs that appeared to be in distress. The complaints led the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning to intensify monitoring of the NGO.

According to the agency, Linda Blair ignored 24 contact attempts made over the last three years. The purpose of the notifications was to regularize administrative issues, check possible violations of operating rules and ensure that the number of animals remained within authorized limits.

Another problem identified by the authorities was the situation of the institution's licenses. As reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, the NGO's authorization to operate had expired since 2023. Furthermore, the license allowed the fostering of up to 60 animals, a much lower number than the 251 dogs found on the property.

Despite bureaucratic irregularities, the inspection found no signs of mistreatment. According to the report released after the inspection, none of the dogs had apparent injuries or signs of illness that would justify emergency intervention.

Winner of the Golden Globe and nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Exorcist, Linda Blair has dedicated much of her life to animal protection work since the early 2000s. The WorldHeart Foundation works mainly in rescuing dogs considered difficult to adopt and follows the policy of not euthanizing the animals taken in.