Doris Day Was a Celebrity Animal Activist Long Before it was Cool

Day didn't just love animals - she was one of the very first celebrities to recognize that her star power and influence could be used to advocate for change where it was needed.

Day's love of animals goes back all the way to her childhood and she often told the story of how she found comfort in her family dog Tiny, after she was forced to stop her earliest passion, dance, following an accident. During her time in recovery, she cultivated not only a beautiful singing voice, but also a lifelong devotion to animals. One of the popular quotes often attributed to her is: “I've never met an animal I didn't like, and I can't say the same thing about people."

And it was her amazing voice, that led to her later success as an actress, and her advocacy for animals in the industry. Day began her professional singing career at age 15, and had her first hit, “Sentimental Journey,” with Les Brown’s band. That song, and her signature tune “Que Sera Sera,” were her biggest hits.

Her amazing voice paved the way to her acting career, and once she became an established Hollywood figure, she used her star power to advocate for animals on set. While working on Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, she insisted on better treatment of the horses, donkeys, and dogs used for the film and even helped feed emaciated animals in the surrounding community.

From 1968 to 1973, Day had her own sitcom, The Doris Day Show, which told the story of a city dweller who moves to a California ranch. Due to the show's story line, she had plenty of opportunities to work with animals on set, which ultimately inspired her to found nonprofit organizations that would advocate for better treatment for working animals in Hollywood.

In 1971, Day became a founding member of the organization Actors and Others for Animals. Just seven years later she founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation in 1978, now known as the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

Motivated by the success of the Doris Day Animal Foundation, Day then went on to create the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) in 1987. The organization is still a successful national nonprofit citizen’s lobbying organization today, dedicated to protecting animals through policy initiatives, education and corporate engagement.

“When I first met her, I was struck by how much she cared about every individual animal in need,” Holly Hazard, who served as Executive Director of DDAL, said of her.

“I was told that what everyone realizes about Doris is that while she had every opportunity to socialize with the rich and famous, she would rather spend her time finding a home for a dog in need, and she did so time and time again.”

Her lifelong compassion for animals compelled her to fight animal testing and to advocate for spay/neuter education and outreach programs in the US. Today, her early Spay Day program had become an international event, with World Spay Day providing thousands of free or reduced-cost spay and neuter surgeries in 75 countries around the world.

According to the Doris Day Foundation, "Doris' passionate work on behalf of dogs, cats, horses, sea lions, raptors and other animals in need of rescue, veterinary care and adoption will not end. The Doris Day Animal Foundation is committed to continuing its work as a grant-giving organization, funding smaller animal welfare non-profits across the country."

Day's humble demeanor stayed with her until the end. Her foundation said she wishes to "have no funeral or memorial service and no grave marker. Friends and fans wishing to remember Doris Day, are encouraged to visit www.dorisdayanimalfoundation.org."

Qué será, será!

The Man Who Gives a Voice to the Voiceless [Q&A]
6 Animal Rescue Organizations That Make a Real Difference
Jon Stewart is Opening an Animal Sanctuary - No Joke!