A Hollywood horror icon best known for terrifying audiences on screen is now facing claims that life near her California animal rescue became its own ordeal for former neighbors.
Linda Blair became a household name as Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror landmark The Exorcist, a performance that earned her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination at just 15.
Today, Blair, 67, is more closely associated with animal welfare than acting. She operates a no-kill dog rescue dedicated to rehabilitating and finding homes for abused, neglected and abandoned canines.
But her nonprofit in Acton has allegedly expanded well beyond what local rules allow. On July 31, county officials visited Blair’s 2.5-acre desert ranch and reported finding 251 dogs on the property — more than double the permitted limit.
Contacted by Our News Outlet, Blair maintained that the animals in her care are “fine.”
Former neighbors, however, say they were left shaken by repeated fears that some of the rescue’s larger dogs could break loose from their kennels. They allege there were multiple incidents in which cherished pets and livestock were chased, attacked or killed.
“It was like one of those scenes when you go on a safari in Africa and you see a lion attack its prey in the wilderness,” neighbor Edgar Najar told Our News Outlet, describing an incident now at the center of a civil complaint.
Actress Linda Blair operates her no-kill shelter on a 2.5-acre property in Acton, California. The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation says it is focused on rehabilitating and rehoming abused, neglected and abandoned dogs.
Blair’s foundation, which has been operating since 2003, has had various complaints from nearby neighbors, who have alleged some of the larger dogs have escaped and wandered onto their properties
Najar claimed that in 2022, he watched in horror as two escaped dogs viciously mauled his beloved miniature horse, Blackie Lawless, and said he was forced to shoot one of the dogs to save it.
‘My horse is a tiny little guy and all I could see was one dog grabbing on his back legs, while the other gripped his head. There was blood everywhere.’
He told Our News Outlet that he was trampled to the ground by his other panicked animals as he tried to defend Blackie, while his wife was bitten by one of the dogs.
Najar claimed the couple lived in constant dread after the incident, listening for their animals’ blood-curdling shrieks and wondering whether one of Blair’s dogs had escaped onto their property, just yards away.
‘That was the type of fear we had to live with for 16 years. The question every day was, “Hey, is it going to be safe, or do you have to go out there with a helmet and something else to protect yourself just so you can feed your horses and sheep?” It was traumatizing for all of us,’ Najar said in an interview.
The Najars, who have since moved out of the neighborhood, have sued Blair and the Blair WorldHeart foundation for negligence, loss of property, general damages and hospital and medical expenses.
In their civil complaint, the Najars alleged that two of Blair’s pit bulls ‘mauled the face’ of their miniature horse during a November 2022 attack, leaving both Edgar and his wife with ‘severe injuries.’
The complaint alleged that Blair and the foundation were already aware of the danger posed by the dogs, citing at least two other alleged incidents in which dogs from the property allegedly entered the Najars’ land and attacked their livestock.
Makeshift tiny homes used to house the animals line Blair’s property line in Acton, California
An aerial view of Blair’s property
Blair also keeps generators on site to guarantee the dogs access to air conditioning in the event of a power outage, according to a neighbor who did not wish to be identified
‘Prior to November 11, 2022, the defendants were aware that they had dangerous animals on the property,’ the complaint claimed.
It further alleged that during the November attack, Najar was ‘forced to shoot one of the defendant’s dogs in order to stop the attack.’
The lawsuit also recounted an alleged 2010 incident in which the Najars claimed that a dog from Blair’s property escaped onto their land and attacked their potbellied pig.
The lawsuit claimed that one of Blair’s dogs entered his ranch and placed the pig, named Gerty, in a death grip. The dog was ultimately shot by Najar’s friend in order to save the pig.
No criminal charges were filed in connection to either shooting of the dogs.
In her answer, Blair denied all the allegations against her and fully disputed Najar’s claims.
Blair’s foundation, which has been operating since 2003, has had various complaints from neighbors, who claimed the property’s gates are not strong or tall enough to house larger dogs.
County officials told Our News Outlet they have attempted more than a dozen times over the past three years to enter the property for inspection.
On July 31, at least 70 county officials and the LA County Sheriff’s deputies raided Blair’s property at 6am and discovered 251 dogs were on the property, which was well above the allowed maximum of 100 animals.
Blair was cited for operating at overcapacity and not renewing the shelter’s license to operate, which has lapsed for three years. While no dogs were removed from the foundation’s care, Blair was ordered to take three dogs for veterinary treatment.
Linda Blair is best known for playing Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic ‘The Exorcist’ for which she snatched up a Golden Globe award and even an Oscar nomination when she was just 15-years-old
Blair took to Instagram shortly after the July 31 raid and called it a ‘really big surprise visit’ over pending ‘paperwork’ and ‘new diagrams’
County officials also said some structures on the property did not comply with zoning rules, citing a building within a required setback area. They also flagged an industrial-size cargo container over concerns about safety for the animals.
Officials with the Regional Planning Division also said they had tried to search the shelter premises nine times, while DACC had tried at least 15 times over the past three years to coordinate an inspection of the property with Blair.
‘All attempts by both departments went unanswered or were refused, leaving the county no alternative but to seek a judicial warrant to proceed,’ officials said.
Blair declined to comment on the raid when approached by Our News Outlet, but said the animals were ‘fine’ as she left the property to take three dogs to the vet.
She later addressed the inspection on Instagram, calling it a ‘really big surprise visit’ over pending ‘paperwork’ and ‘new diagrams.’
During a visit outside the Acton property last week, Our News Outlet saw a large hound mix jumping high enough to peer over the six- to seven-foot chain-link fence. Thick tarps covered much of the fence, obscuring the animals from the dirt road outside.
Inside, rooftops of dozens of dog houses were visible above the fence. The structures resembled tiny homes, with individual air-conditioning units humming as temperatures approached 100 degrees.
Some neighbors said Blair has been unfairly targeted because she is famous, while others say the actress has gotten away with ‘a slap on the wrist’ despite not following laws to run her shelter
Blair also keeps generators on site to guarantee the dogs access to air conditioning in the event of a power outage, according to a neighbor who did not wish to be identified.
An unidentified worker who spoke to Our News Outlet said there are about five to seven employees who provide around the clock care for the animals on the property.
The employee said the animals are well-cared for and receive daily exercise and get regular vet checkups.
‘She [Blair] only feeds them the best quality food and they are all good,’ the employee said.
Dr Mateo Levine-Ledezma said he was so impressed when he visited the Acton shelter ten years ago that he adopted a pit bull from Blair’s foundation.
‘I was impressed that they had an ongoing staff and different volunteers, who really cared for the animals,’ Levine-Ledezma said. ‘It was clear that when we were walking the grounds that the animals were being well-cared for and they were not in small cages.’
However, the internist said he was concerned to learn county officials found Blair had been recently housing 151 extra dogs.
‘Sometimes you work with good intensions and a good heart, but the more important question is, are other canines being compromised? If so, there’s no way you can defend that.’
