Hollywood scream queen’s bitter feud with neighbors erupts over claims iconic 70s star is turning quaint California enclave into a living NIGHTMARE: ‘Blood everywhere’
Actress Linda Blair, best known for her Oscar-nominated role in The Exorcist, is embroiled in a bitter dispute with former neighbours over her non-kill dog shelter in Acton, California. The Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation, which has operated since 2003, has come under scrutiny after county officials found 251 dogs on her 2.5-acre property on 31 July — more than twice the permitted number — while former residents allege years of fear caused by escaped dogs attacking pets and livestock.
Neighbour Edgar Najar has filed a civil lawsuit against Blair and her foundation, alleging that two of her pit bulls mauled his miniature horse, Blackie Lawless, in November 2022, an attack he says he had to stop by shooting one of the dogs. He and his wife, who were reportedly injured during the incident, claim it was one of several such attacks dating back to 2010, and that they lived for 16 years in fear of dogs escaping onto their land. Blair has told the Daily Mail her dogs are "fine," while the lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, property loss and medical expenses.
- Linda Blair's dog shelter had 251 dogs, over twice the permitted limit.
- Former neighbours allege years of attacks on pets and livestock.
- Neighbour is suing Blair after his horse was mauled in 2022.
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Linda Blair is an American actor best known for playing the possessed child Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist. She later became closely associated with animal welfare work and founded a rescue organisation for dogs.
The dispute appears to involve Blair, her neighbours and concerns about animals in their California community. Such cases can involve competing accounts of pet safety, responsibility and local rules, so the claims made by residents and any response from Blair are important to consider separately.