Larissa Wohl of Hallmark's "Home & Family" On Helping Animals During the Crisis

As the ripple effects of the Coronavirus crisis continue to be felt throughout Hollywood, Crown Media, parent company to Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, announced on March 14 that its original movies and daily chat show Home & Family (now in repeats) would join much of Hollywood by temporarily suspending production.  According to the issued statement, March 30 was likely the earliest date the certain productions might resume, though no decisions have been made.  While the entire Home & Family team agrees that the move was a wise one, the show’s resident pet adoption expert Larissa Wohl wants to make clear that everyone involved in the network’s Adoption Ever After  initiative is still working hard to save lives and place animals in forever homes around the country.  “Temporarily losing the daily platform to be able to highlight at least 10 needy animals a week isn’t ideal,” she told MediaVillage in an exclusive interview.  “So many of the animals we highlight end up adopted, [and we] make viewers aware of rescue organizations near them that they may not have known about.  Our health is the priority.  But we’ll be continuing our efforts throughout this difficult time.”

With on-air rescue efforts temporarily sidelined, Wohl (pictured at top and below with friends) has taken to social media to continue doing what she loves and remind people that fostering is always an option. “From home, I’ve been using my social media to remind everybody this is probably the best time to foster if you can,” she explained.  “Many rescues are canceling their adoption events because of social distancing, so they are getting it from all angles and it’s heartbreaking.  Even offering supplies to a shelter helps.  I’ve been doing everything I can as I feel we’ve come too far to stop and unwind all the good we’ve done.  I fear the animals could become the forgotten ones amidst all of this.

“I visited one of my local shelters this week,” Wohl continued.  “Thankfully there weren’t a lot of small dogs to be fostered.  Having three small dogs makes it hard for me to take in a larger dog, but rescues need the space.  I’d really like people to be aware and consider what they could possibly do.  If you’re working at home, or can’t work, foster!  Explain what your intention and commitment is.  It also helps the rescue get an idea of what the animal is like in a safe environment and that helps to place them.  It’s what makes fostering great.”

Hallmark’s decision to err on the side of caution in postponing Home & Family’s production is one she believes was necessary.  ">

Steve Gidlow

Steve Gidlow, a long-time columnist for MediaVillage ("Behind the Scenes in Hollywood"), has written about television and pop culture since 1994, beginning in Australia.  Since moving to Hollywood in 1997, Steve has focused on celebrity interv… read more