‘Exorcist’ Star Linda Blair’s Shocking Dogs Hoarding Case Takes Another Turn

Linda Blair‘s dog hoarding case will cost her a visit to the vet!

The “Exorcist” star whose house in California was recently raided has now been ordered to ensure three of the animals found in the 251 dog kennels in her home are taken for adequate care.

Linda Blair has identified herself as a lifelong animal lover who famously stepped away from Hollywood to dedicate her life to dog activism and rescue work.

The actress’ Southern California home was recently raided, causing a discovery of over 250 dogs in kennels. Officials required that three of the canines now require a trip to the vet for care.

In a statement by officials from the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control, the probe into her no-kill shelter in Acton, California, was still ongoing. As at July 31, when the raid happened, none of the kernels have been removed, but orders to comply with the treatment directives have been given.

Blair’s home was visited by the Los Angeles County Departments of Regional Planning, Public Works (Building and Safety), Public Health, and Animal Care and Control (DACC) officials.

They were reportedly tipped off by sources who claimed over 100 dogs were being kept in overcrowded and unclean conditions on the property operated by Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation.

Aside from that, the actress was also discovered to have failed to renew a license that allowed her to operate a system of keeping over 100 dogs on a property.

As noted by The Daily Mail, the permit expired in 2023, while some of the structures on the property also breached zoning rules, prompting concerns about dog safety.

According to the officials, the decision to raid Blair’s home did not happen overnight, as the property has been noted in multiple citations about license violations and breaching guidelines. 

The actress has also failed to give officials from the Regional Planning division time to search the premises despite trying to gain access over nine times. The DACC had also reportedly tried about 15 times over three years to coordinate an inspection with Blair.

The activists have also reportedly ignored orders issued to sort out the complaints raised about the structures and sanitation on the premises. It was Blair’s silence that prompted the county to obtain a judicial warrant to proceed with the search.

On social media on Friday, July 31, Blair had reacted to the raid, describing it as an aftereffect of some paperwork misunderstanding, insisting that it was not related to the animals on the premises. The actress even slammed the officials for failing to air their grievances through mail instead of swooping over at her home.

Linda Blair’s Former Staff Claimed She Overadmitted Animals Due To The Palisades Fire

The Blast, in a July 3 report, noted that Blair’s neighbors had informed officials about hearing distressing sounds from the animals in her building. They claimed that it had been happening for years, and as the number of animals in the shelter grew, it raised more public disturbance concerns.

Blair, on the organization’s website, had described herself as the main rescuer, behaviorist, and matchmaker for adopters. However, her friend and former employee claimed that her dedication to live up to these terms may have now landed her in hot water.

According to her pal, the overcrowding issues leaked during the Los Angeles wildfires when Blair refused to turn away stranded animals, adding to the number of dozens of dogs that were already dropped off.

She added that the actress never intended to leave the animals in a state of neglect, as she made sure they were fed, sheltered, and taken care of daily.

How The 67-Year-Old Turned Her Hollywood Success Into A Worthy Cause

In 1973, the world met Blair through her role on “The Exorcist,” which became an instant hit. The actress confessed in her interview with PEOPLE in 2023 that she stumbled on the movie while looking for funding for college. While filming the movie, Blair noted that she still kept her love for animals by riding horses and raising a rooster. 

So when the movie made it to screens and received millions of views, including a Golden Globe win, she knew she had to give back to animals. In 2003, the actress launched her non-profit organization to help rescue and rehabilitate abused and neglected animals. 

The Linda Blair Worldheart Foundation promised to provide the animals with proper nutrition, veterinary care, comfortable facilities, training, and socialization. She added that her late mother also influenced her love for animals because she would watch her volunteer and care for animals.

“And she was one of the kindest people I know and just always said, ‘Hang with like-minded people, and do volunteering. You’re going to meet people that are going to change your life; it just is the way it is,” Blair said of her mother, Elinore Blair.

Linda Blair Was Slammed With A Lawsuit Over Attack On Neighbor’s Horse

As shared by The Blast in 2023, the actress’s previous canine pets earned her a lawsuit from a disgruntled neighbor who claimed two of her pit bulls gained access into their home and attacked their miniature horse.

The neighbors, identified as Stephanie and Edgar Najar, noted in the filing that it was not the first time Blair’s animals had entered their property, and this recent attack left them injured. They claimed in the lawsuit that the actress was aware that they had dangerous animals on their property, and requested for over $25,000 in damages.

Blair was reportedly aware of at least two previous occasions where her dogs had gotten onto their property and attacked their livestock. Stephanie and Edgar added that they had no choice but to use a weapon on one of the dogs to stop them from unleashing the attack. 

Will Linda Blair earn any penalties after this raid?