Actress will sign copies of memoir that tells of her efforts to rescue and rehabilitate dogs in L.A.
Actress and Burbank resident Sylva Kelegian is looking to inform people about the importance of rescuing and adopting dogs.
Kelegian will be signing copies of her books “God Spelled Backwards: The Journey of an Actress into the World of Dog Rescue” and “The Dolphin Princess” from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Media City Center Barnes & Noble.
“God Spelled Backwards” is a memoir of Kelegian’s 12-year effort to save as many dogs as she could. She said she has rescued almost 600 dogs during that time, but had to stop because she could no longer devote enough time to volunteering.
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“It can really take over your life because there are so many dogs suffering in this state and all over the country and all over the world,” she said.
The actress started rescuing dogs after moving to Los Angeles County from New York City and seeing all the stray dogs. She felt compelled to do something about the issue.
“It’s like a Third-World country in Los Angeles when it comes to the animals living on the streets,” she said. “So, in between acting jobs, I would rescue and volunteer for a few organizations.”
Whenever Kelegian rescued a dog, she would take care of it for a while. Once it was rehabilitated, she would then find the dog a new home.
Now that Kelegian no longer fosters dogs, she is devoting her time to getting stricter spay and neuter laws passed and implemented, which she believes will reduce the number of stray dogs on the streets.
“I don’t know why we’ve allowed this to go on for as long as it’s gone on,” she said.
Kelegian also wants to change the law that allows dogs to stay in cages for as long as they live.
“That, to me, is archaic and horrific and heartbreaking,” she said. “I have to leave this life knowing that I helped.”
“The Dolphin Princess,” the other book Kelegian will be signing on Saturday, is a children’s book about how anyone can love and be loved no matter who they are.
The Media City Barnes & Noble is located in the Burbank Town Center, 731 N. San Fernando Blvd.
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Anthony Clark Carpio, anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com
Twitter: @acocarpio
