Doris Day - her most important contribution

The most important thing Doris Day has done in her life is follow her passion to protect the dogs of the world. While still in demand, the award-winning actress walked away from her movie and television career to devote her life to welfare and care of animals. In spite of brief temptations by Hollywood to return to her acting, the vivacious blonde has kept to her promise to ensure the animals get a fair deal in life.

Doris has been one of my core favorites for my entire life, and that goes back more than a few years, to be sure. I always loved her infectious smile and her wholesome film image. There is no way for me to count how many times I've seen her films: it's impossible to tally. Her performances always make me feel better if I'm in a bad mood, and her tender vocal style has given me more hours of pleasure than I can say.

However, I'm not just a fan of this remarkable thespian, but I have a tremendous respect and admiration for how she has chosen to spend these last decades. She laughs at the reports that she's a recluse and a hermit, the media not understanding that the serenity she gets from living in the small yet beautiful community of Carmel by the Sea is worth more to her than a critic praising her for a dramatic appearance in film. Nor do they understand that the time she spends there, working on various animal causes and just being with her animals, is one of deeper meaning than being nominated for an acting or singing award.

Doris' love for animals began as a teenager, when she was in a car accident that left her on crutches for almost a year. Her dog, Tiny, never left her side, providing her with an unsurpassed love and understanding that only a canine can do. She carried forward this love as her professional career soared. Even while filming her successful TV series in the early seventies, she was known to action upon seeing something she felt was wrong.

Many times, for example, when Doris would spot a dog running around loose, she'd stop her vehicle or get off her bike, which she often rode, get the dog, and go looking for its owner, often surprising said owner with a piece of her mind about exposing their dog to the dangers of being left loose the street.

In the mid-eighties, several years after 'retiring' from show business, Doris agreed to film a show on what was then the CBN Cable Network. "Doris Day and Friends" focused on her interest in animal welfare while also reuniting the talented and caring woman with many of her old friends and co-stars. That would be her last regular foray into show business.

In 1987, Doris began the Doris Day Animal League, which concentrated on animal welfare issues at every level of government. Through the years, the DDAL has accomplished many things, including the 2003 Exotic Pet Protection Act that bans interstate commerce of certain wild cat species bound for exotic pet trade.

Eleven years later, in 1998, Doris founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation, which focuses on protecting animals through educational and community outreach programs. One of her biggest successes with this group is the annual Spay Day USA, which has been credited with over one million spays and/or neuters since its inception.

Doris is proud of her film success. She had a long and successful career, but her life has extended beyond the need for applause. Her deep compassion and loving devotion to animals has caused this icon to achieve wonderful successes in animal rights. This is her most important role. It's the one that no Academy Award could ever surpass. I'm proud to call myself a fan of Doris Day, the actress. I'm even prouder to be able to say that she is a woman who has fought for what she believes in and has helped to make the animal kingdom a safer and better place for all the animals of the world.