When James Garner died in 2014, the world lost an amazing actor and a dog lover, while a daughter lost her father. Now the actor is being remembered with a fitting tribute inspired by his love of dogs.
On June 14, Gigi Garner, the daughter of the late actor James Garner announced that she was creating a special rescue fund in honor of her father. As an avid dog lover throughout his life, Gigi said, “There wasn’t a dog or a baby that my dad did not want to meet.” So, it is only fitting that five years after his death (and just in time for Father’s Day), Garner is being honored with a dog rescue fund in his name.
According to the USA Today, while the actor never wanted anyone to fuss over him and his passing, for Gigi Garner, this is a chance to publicly pay tribute to her father’s memory.
The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund will help raise money for shelters, adoptions, and even rescue operations. If people are interested in donating to the fund, there is a website set up that breaks down all of the ways the money will be utilized, while also providing a look into who James Garner was.
On the rescue fund’s website, visitors will see pictures of the actor with various dogs, including his own pup, Bret, as well as other dogs he owned or rescued throughout the years.
Even as a child, it seems that James Garner was all about rescuing animals. When he was a young boy he rescued a dog named Ginger, and there are even pictures of an 11-year-old Garner playing with the dog. And when Gigi herself was growing up, she remembers their home being surrounded by dogs, many of which were rescues.
For Gigi Garner, her father’s love of dogs is one that she herself has, and for the last 30 years (if not longer), she has been helping to rescue dogs as well. It certainly makes sense that in order to honor her father, Gigi has chosen to start a rescue fund in his name. Even with his desire for no fanfare, it seems as if this is something that even James Garner would have been happy with as a way to remember him.
As fans of the actor, it is nice to see such a touching tribute to his legacy and name. And the fact that it not only honors who Garner was, but also helps to make the lives of dogs better seems like a win-win in our book.
If you are interested in learning more about the James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, check out their website.