Betty White was beloved for her television career, but animals were one of the deepest passions of her life. For more than 50 years, she supported animal health, wildlife research and zoo programs, using both her time and her public profile to help improve the lives of animals.
White joined Morris Animal Foundation in 1971 and later served as a trustee, board president and spokesperson. The Foundation says she personally sponsored more than 30 animal health studies involving dogs, cats, horses and wildlife. In 2010, the Betty White Wildlife Fund was established to support research into urgent wildlife health problems.
She was also closely connected to the Los Angeles Zoo for decades, serving in leadership and fundraising roles and helping support programs that introduced children to animals and conservation.
Her animal advocacy was not a side project. It was a long-running part of her life, and the organizations she supported continue to carry that work forward today.
