Sarah McLachlan: Animal Rights Activist

Sarah McLachlan: Animal Rights Activist

The sweet, crystal clear notes of Sarah McLachlan’s voice have soothed and inspired us for two decades. We’ve seen her launch the successful Lilith Fair festival of female solo artists and female-led bands that took place during the summers of 1997 to 1999 and again in 2010. We’ve seen Sarah gracing the cover of Yoga Journal, and launching a cookbook (A Collection of Sarah McLachlans’ Favourite Recipes).

Not content to sit on her laurels, McLachlan has made a point of giving back to the wider community through her participation in many philanthropic enterprises. She contributed to the AIDS-benefit album No Alternative. Lilith Fair gave $1 from every ticket sold to the fair’s i4c Campaign, which supported ethical and fair-trade farming around the world. McLachlan participated in tsunami relief telethons in both Canada and the US, and along with such artists as Peter Gabriel and Sting, she participated in a CD – Yoga Revolution – to raise money for in-school fitness and yoga programs in the USA.

More recently, however, we’ve been aware of Sarah McLachlan as the spokesperson for animal rights. She has been the face of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) since early 2007. Her incredibly moving plea for donations features heart-rending images of dogs and cats in need of rescue, accompanied by her haunting song Angel.

The alliance with the ASPCA came about when Canadian production company Eagle-Com was working on a project for a small animal shelter in Vancouver, British Columbia, that McLachlan supported. They asked if she might be interested in doing similar work for the A.S.P.C.A. After researching the organization, she decided to help, and the rest is history.

In a 2008 interview with the New York Times, then ASPCA senior vice president of development and communications Jo Sullivan stated, “Sarah made it possible to do in two minutes what took thirty minutes before,” referring to the long-form use of celebrities in the past. “She literally has changed the way we fund-raise.”

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Her ad – “The Ad” – went on to raise $30 million since it aired – enough to assist thousands more animals in need.

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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.