Animal enthusiast unites pet charities

Betty Francis • The Desert Sun • May 17, 2009 Lindi Biggi organizes fundraisers The name Lindi Biggi is well known in charitable and philanthropic circles for a variety of reasons. To some she is “The Bird Lady,” living in a tropical paradise among dozens of exotic birds and other animals on the former Firestone Estate in Palm Desert.  To others, she is a fierce, passionate animal lover who devotes big chunks of time and money to at least eight local animal charities. And to many, she is just a superb, fun-loving hostess who, with the sometimes-reluctant-but-never-denied help of her husband Gino, has created some of the desert's most outlandish and fascinating parties. But now, Lindi is on a mission. She is saddened by what she sees as duplicated programs and derisive competition among the valley's eight major animal charities. “We all love animals and want to help them” she says. “Isn't that more important than fighting over the date of a fundraiser or keeping our donor lists secret?” Those are questions that remain to be answered. Meanwhile, Biggi is trying to build bridges of understanding and communication with programs like her free Pet Pals e-mail service. She has compiled an email list of more than 300 animal lovers who are willing to help animals in distress. “Whenever someone has an animal — or several — in need, I send out a big e-mail blast to everyone and the results have been incredible” Biggi says. Another of her ambitions is to have fewer animal fundraisers but to make them more exciting and successful. To that end, she is organizing a huge one-day super adoption party at her “Bird Gardens” estate on Nov. 14. “Representatives of all eight animal charities will be invited to bring dogs and cats in need of adoption that day” she said, “maybe it will be the first baby step toward living up to our mission of creating partnerships that will provide the most benefits for all animals.” On April 10, 2010, Loving All Animals will host “Dress to the Canines” and share the proceeds with Orphan Pet Oasis. Following that will be a “Paws and Claws” golf tournament as a joint fundraiser, with another organization as beneficiary.       “Hopefully, all the animal charities will come out to support each other” she said, “and then, our next fundraiser will help a different one, until every animal charity has benefitted” she said, adding, “eventually we hope to combine some events so that we have bigger, better, and fewer events that animal lovers will support.        Biggi also is keeping a master calendar of animal fundraising events, which she freely shares with her Pet Pals or anyone else who asks. She also serves on the board of PetSmart Charities, possibly the nation's largest animal charity, which has funded more than $87 million in grants to other animal welfare groups. She recently hosted a large reception at her home for Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, based in Phoenix. “Two of our local animal charities have already received grants from PetSmart Charities, through contacts made here, so that may be another area where we can help everyone” she added. Many local philanthropists have expressed doubt that competing charities in the same field can be taught to “cooperate, not duplicate” but they all seem to agree that, “If anyone can do it, Lindi's the one.”

Silver Martin, of Palm Desert, holds her rescue dog, "Shelby," at a meeting of the Loving All Animals organization. Loving All Animals rescued about 18 dogs, which they put up for foster homes or adoption from Anza after the dogs' owner was arrested April 18 and cited on counts of animal law violations after he killed a horse, cut off its head and fed it to the dogs. The organization fears the owner will be able to have the dogs returned to him. (Wade Byars The Desert Sun) Lindi Biggi (center) is shown at a recent reception she hosted at her and husband Gino’s “Bird Gardens” estate in Palm Desert. The event honored PetSmart Charities executive director (left) Susana Della Maddalena and director of philanthropy Jan Elliott. The event also included a brief, casual program in which Biggi introduced her non-profit, “Loving All Animals” created for the purpose of fostering cooperation between the eight animal charities in the valley. (DEL FRANCIS SPECIAL TO THE DEERT SUN) Loving All Animals Established: 2009 Mission: To support programs and policies created for the benefit, care and protection of animals. Events: A super-adoption party on Nov. 14 at the Biggi Bird Gardens estate, and April 10, 2010 a golf tournament. Pet Pals or other information: Send an e-mail to www.LovingAllAnimals.org or 776-9397.