People News

Katherine Heigl new baby news, and Heigl Ray of Hope outreach for LA, April 25

By April MacIntyre Apr 25, 2012, 19:50 GMT

Katherine Heigl - Today The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, in partnership with Rachael Ray and the LA County Animal Care Foundation, is launching a free spay/neuter program for dogs and cats in the cities of Baldwin Park and El Monte, cities serviced by the Baldwin Park Shelter. © Pixplanete / PR Photos

Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley‘s 3-year-old daughter Naleigh has a brand new sister, reports People.

“Yes they have adopted a baby,” rep Jill Fritzo tells PEOPLE. “No further details [are available] at this time.”

Heigl says adoption was always in the plan she had for a family with her singer-songwriter husband, 32.

The actress is not only busy with motherhood, but her pet charity endeavors too.

Today The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, in partnership with Rachael Ray and the LA County Animal Care Foundation, is launching a free spay/neuter program for dogs and cats in the cities of Baldwin Park and El Monte, cities serviced by the Baldwin Park Shelter. 

The Heigl Ray of Hope Program was created by generous donations from the three partners to provide free spay/neuter surgeries in an effort to substantially reduce the number of pets handled by shelters.  The program will expand to other areas in the upcoming months.

From the release:

No application, no paperwork, no lengthy list of requirements.  To start, Residents of Baldwin Park (zip code 91706) and El Monte (zip codes 91731, 91732 and 91733) need only make one phone call to 818-755-6045 to register for an appointment.  Actors and Others for Animals, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to eliminating pet overpopulation, will administer the program on behalf of the Foundation. “We are pleased to partner with Rachael Ray, LA County Animal Care Foundation and Actors and Others for Animals, to provide a free, simple and much needed life-saving program,“ said Nancy Heigl. 

Katherine Heigl and her mother Nancy Heigl founded the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation jasonheiglfoundation.org to improve the plight of pets through a variety of programs, such as funding spay/neuter surgeries, assisting rescue organizations and transporting shelter animals to reputable destinations where great pets find great homes.

Ms. Heigl is passionate about pets and savvy to the difficult challenges faced by municipal animal shelters. Katherine stated, “Stopping litters and slowing pet population growth will provide shelter animals a better chance for adoption and will reduce the euthanasia rate.”

Always an animal lover and advocate, Rachael Ray decided in 2008 to partner with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition® to create a super premium line of pet foods and treats called Rachael Ray Nutrish® (http://nutrish.rachaelray.com) as a way to continuously fund programs that help animals in need.  Through Rachael’s Rescue, she personally donates 100% of her proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® to shelters and organizations that provide food, medical supplies and treatments for needy animals.      

“I created Rachael’s Rescue to help care for forgotten pets--the ones that might not have someone to love them,” said Ray. To date more than $3 million in proceeds from the sale of Nutrish® and Just 6® product lines have gone to help countless numbers of shelters, animal organizations and pets in need. “I am so happy to be able to partner with Katherine and her foundation to launch this very important program.”

Ainsworth Pet Nutrition will also be making food donations to support the spay and neuter programs.

The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation (www.lacountyanimals.org) is a private nonprofit foundation that supports the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control through fundraising for spay and neuter programs, pet adoption, public education and animal welfare.  Committed to reducing euthanasia of unwanted animals, the Foundation provides low cost spay/neuter opportunities, funds adoption outreach and enhancement programs, and purchases medical services and supplies to save the lives of sick and injured animals.  The Foundation is thrilled to join with The Heigl Foundation and Rachael Ray to create this life saving partnership to improve the future for animals in Los Angeles County.

Actors and Others for Animals (http://www.actorsandothers.com) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.   It is dedicated to eliminating pet overpopulation, ensuring the care and protection of pet companions and improving the quality of life of economically challenged, disadvantaged and underserved pet guardians, by providing referral and financial assistance for spay/neuter and veterinary medical procedures together with other animal/human bond enriching programs.