Animal rights activist and stage actress Gretchen Wyler died last week from complications of breast cancer at the age of 75. Wyler, who is known for such Broadway hits as Guys and Dolls and Damn Yankees, first became interested in animal rights in the 60s when she spent time at dog pounds visiting with abused and abandoned animals. Her inspiration lead her to become a prominent figure in the ASPCA where she later became the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors. Among her many accomplishments were the 1981 movement to eliminate “pound seizure,” or the selling of sheltered animals for use in medical experimentation, her influence of animal-rights activism in Hollywood pop culture and her work with The Ark Trust, an organization she founded to which most of her efforts were later invested. In her lifetime, Wyler worked with over a dozen animal advocacy organizations. She will be remembered and missed for her direct action against standard cruel practices and her passion for the animal world.
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Jason Das
on #Be sure to check out this great interview of Wyler from Satya, conducted a month before she died.