Tattle Tails

When it comes to speaking up for animal rights, the voice of Jennifer Pryor is loud and clear. The wife of the late comedian and actor Richard Pryor has been involved with animals for as long as she can remember—from advocacy to rescue to having her own nonprofit, Pryor’s Planet. Pryor took some time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her organization, animal rights, and life with her five dogs.

Can you tell us a little about Pryor’s Planet?
We started this a couple years before Richard passed. It began out of a love of animals, pure and simple. Richard always loved animals, as is evident in his comedy. We were always involved in rescue and just decided that starting a 501(c)(3), Pryor’s Planet, was really a smart thing to do to go to the next level with our rescue.

What type of rescue does Pryor’s Planet do?
We’re advocacy and hands-on rescue; I go to adoption events every weekend. We get dogs from all over. People ask us to take dogs who need help whom we take out of abusive situations. We pull from shelters and pick up dogs on the street. We’re very hands-on. We house them in foster care, in cage-free boarding, and in traditional boarding.

How did you get involved with animals?
I’ve always been in love with animals since I was a little girl. It just expanded as I got older. I realized that I felt an affinity for animals and have a need and drive to protect them from abuse. They are the voiceless, and I’m driven to speak for them. I like to say that my work is what I do, but rescue is who I am.

How else have you been involved with animal rescue and rights?
I’m an advocate as well. I’m involved in ending horse slaughter in this country; I work with Willie and Amy Nelson and the Barbi twins. I also get involved in letter campaigns and work with the animal-protection society in Washington [state]. I work on behalf of the elephants at the LA Zoo, trying to get them out. I’m involved in pretty much all aspects of animal rescue and advocacy.

Are you satisfied with the animal-cruelty laws in California?
I’m never satisfied with animal-cruelty laws. We have an animal-cruelty task force, but it’s very small; we need at least 500 times as many people and more funds. We push for that as well. Sometimes we just have to take it into our own hands when we can’t get attention from the animal regulators. We have to get dogs out of abusive situations any way we can.

Do you think people are becoming more aware?
I do; I think that’s the good news. The Internet, of course, has helped immeasurably. By being more accessible, we can reach more people. The noise we’re making is louder, and we are being heard—more importantly, the animals are being heard.

What are your goals for the future?
Right now I’m trying to place 30 of my dogs in wonderful homes. I also really want to see the LA Animal Services take better care of its homeless and stray animals whom it has in the shelters. I want to see the city shelters improved, I want to see the laws improved, I want to see more rescue-friendly boarding facilities in Los Angeles.

Tell us about your pets.
Right now in my home I have four who belong to me. I have a 5-year-old Shiba/Inu mix called Valley; a dog called Whiskey; Diego, who is a Jindo; [and] Indigo, a Lab/Pit mix I pulled out of a shelter three years ago on her kill day. The fifth dog I have now I pulled from a shelter about a month ago on her kill day. Her name is Clarabella. We think she’s a Terrier/Greyhound mix. For the first week she wouldn’t leave her pillow or her room, she was so terrified! Now she flies all over the backyard and is having a wonderful time with my dogs.

What inspires you to continue doing the work that you do?
Oh my gosh, the look in their eyes. When I see Clarabella run in the backyard and discover joy and love, I don’t think there’s anything better. It brings me joy, and it inspires me to help every dog who doesn’t have that love and joy to come to know it in some way.

For more information visit PryorsPlanet.com.