Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi have scooped up a $10 million horse ranch way outside Los Angeles in Westlake Village, California. The pair have long expressed interest in one day retiring from the hustle and bustle and just enjoying the simple life. “It’s our dream that we’ll end up in a sweet country town on a farm,” Portia said back in March. “I love horses and riding and love animals and Ellen loves animals. It would be lovely for us. It’s what we’re going to do when we’re not working anymore.”

The 26-acre ranch, which was used as the quarantine site for foreign horses during the 2000 Olympics, features numerous residences including a single story, 10-room Spanish hacienda style main house that measures 6,329 square feet and includes 5 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.

According to ShelterPop, back in 2005, Ellen gave Portia a gray gelding named Jones and Portia gave Ellen a quarter horse named Puff, both of which are probably now housed in the deluxe stable complex of their new ranch. We’ve no doubt that this ranch is a dream retreat for the couple — though we wouldn’t be surprised if this latest purchase is just a stepping stone to even bigger things down the road. According to Berg Properties, Ellen “has bought and sold more southern California properties in the last 10 years than virtually any other Hollywood celebrity.” Who knew?

Satellite view of the property available here.

The usual suspects were out in full force and included Razz faves Constance Marie, who having recently given birth to a baby girl, couldn’t help but extol the virtues of veganism; the oh-so-beautiful Emily Deschanel; James Cromwell, Wendie Malick; Jennifer Coolidge; Esai Morales; Corey Feldman; and Jillian Reynolds, who reminded us to get our dogs from shelters and not pet stores. Other celebs lending their support included Gabrielle Anwar, Matt Grant, Joe Mantegna, and Victoria Stilwell.

Gorgeous ANTM judge, Nigel Barker, made hearts flutter as he strolled the red carpet, but was all business when it came to ending the Canadian Seal Hunt. “I’ve always been interested in marine biology so the Humane Society approached me last year to take over the Save the Seals Campaign from Sir Paul McCartney, and I’m very happy to do that.” And by the way, he LOVES the Razz!

Oakland Raiders star, Jarrod Cooper, was emphatic about animal shelters and volunteering. When asked if he was going to become a spokesman, Jarrod replied, “Well I’m thinking about just beating people up who don’t spay and neuter their dogs!” And that he would also be the first to whoop Michael Vick’s behind when he got out of jail! He was joking, of course!

Michael Vartan is also an impassioned supporter, especially against the atrocities committed in China. “In 2009 it absolutely shocks me that we haven’t gone to that next level in human consciousness. Events like this really help.” Heather Mills (who despite recent media reports is not the spokesperson for a new vegetarian menu at Burger King) has actively used her celebrity to campaign against the skinning of dogs and cats in China, and has just had the ban supported and passed by 27 countries. Way to go, Heather — and Burger King, if you’re listening, she’s open to the idea!

Like other celebrities before them, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have dreams to leave the hustle and bustle of LA and retire to a quiet farm life.

In a recent interview, de Rossi was asked what she and her wife might do once the camera stop rolling. “It’s our dream that we’ll end up in a sweet country town on a farm,” she said. “I love horses and riding and love animals and Ellen loves animals,” she says. “It would be lovely for us. It’s what we’re going to do when we’re not working anymore.”

“I’d rank my career as a good, healthy third of my life,” she added. “It’s important, and without this third, I wouldn’t feel whole. But it’s not important for me to be engaged in it 12 months of the year. I need to find my projects and I need to feel like I’m being challenged and I need to feel creative. But when this is over, I’ll be just as happy to ride my horses and paint.”

Source

Under Pacelle’s direction, the HSUS has achieved massive victories for animals throughout the world and will celebrate some of those triumphs on March 28th at the 23rd annual Genesis Awards. Ecorazzi recently had the chance to sit down with El Presidente and pick his brain. Check out the interview below! 

Ecorazzi: You’ve been involved with the HSUS for 15 years. How did you first become interested in animal welfare issues?

Wayne Pacelle: You know I think I was genetically programmed to advocate for animals. It was always a very powerful emotional feeling that we should not misuse our power in our relationship with other animals. I never imagined it as a profession, but my volunteer work led to employment and here I am at the HSUS and it’s a real privilege to be able to work for the nation’s largest animal protection group.

E: The HSUS just announced that JCPenney agreed to go fur-free. Tell me about how your organization played a part in that.

WP: We did a major set of investigations into some really troubling aspects of the fur industry. One was we looked in China and found that millions of dogs and cats were being killed for their fur and it was finding it’s way into fur trim. So that decreased confidence in fur trim. A lot of people had thought, “No big deal it’s just a little bit of fur,” but when we brought up that dog and cat fur was being used it suddenly became much more radioactive from a moral perspective.

Then we also did an investigation into the killing of these Raccoon Dogs – which are canine type wild animals that are used in fur production in China as well as Finland and some other countries. We saw some really inhumane killing methods and brought that to the attention of JCPenney and other major retailers. I really think that information was decisive in JCPenney deciding to forgo the use of fur.

E: The HSUS has certainly seen their fair share of victories. What would you say has been your proudest achievement at the HSUS?

WP: There are so many things that I’m proud of, and more importantly happy that animals have had suffering relieved. The banning of cockfighting in all 50 states was a personal goal of mine, and also making all animal fighting a felony – that was a big moment.

But I have to say that Prop 2 is certainly among the most important victories because it showed that the public is concerned about the welfare of farm animals. Many people thought the public’s compassion for animals might be limited to companion animals or wildlife and not farm animals.

E: Still, would you say there remains a large disconnect between our love for animals and what we choose to put on our plates?

WP: There’s no question. We as individuals and as a society have long disregarded our own involvement in contributing to animal suffering through our diet. I mean today most animal-products that people consume are coming from factory farms. The animals are inhumanely treated on these operations and thought of just as meat, milk and egg producing machines. So yes, I do think there’s a disconnect. That’s one of the reasons the HSUS exist. We attempt to apply anti-cruelty standards in people’s lives and hold corporations to the same standards as well.

E: The Genesis Awards are taking place in about 2 weeks. Can you give us any inside gossip on some things we might expect to see this year?

WP: Well, we’re very excited about Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi coming to the Genesis Awards and receiving the Wyler Award — the highest Genesis honor. We’re just excited to celebrate so many people who’ve used their talents to illuminate these important issues.

E: If you had to choose, who would you say has been the most outspoken celebrity for animal-issues this year?

WP: I think Oprah and Ellen both took it to another level in 2008. Oprah did a full show on Prop 2 and a series of shows on puppy mills. Ellen was centrally involved in Prop 2 and devoted several of her shows to animal issues. I think both of them really stepped up this year.  In fact, I just got an email from a friend in Madagascar who saw me on Oprah’s show about puppy mills. So they’re not just important cultural forces in the United States, but globally, and they’re doing their part to help spread the word about animal issues.

E: Over the past year Nigel Barker has become a good friend of the site. We’re really proud of the work that both he and your organization are doing with the Canadian Seal Hunt. I know the hunt begins again in less than two weeks. What’s the latest update on your group’s effort to try and end the seal hunt in Canada?

WP: Nigel is another celebrity who’s going to be at Genesis and we’re really excited to recognize him as well.

We are making progress on the hunt. We are really doing well in Europe in our efforts to try and ban seal skins from coming into the entire European union. We’re also very pleased that Vladimir Putin in Russia is condemning seal hunting and hopefully will ban Canadian seal pelts as well. All of these things are important to choke off markets for Canada. The seal pelts aren’t used in Canada and we don’t allow them to be imported in the United States, but Europe and Russia are big markets. So I think if we can close those markets that will be the end of the large-scale commercial seal hunt.

E: While you have many animal-loving fans, not everyone is excited about the work the HSUS is doing. You’ve been called “enemy number one,” by the pro-hunting group U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and targeted by various other pro-hunting groups. What do you say to those who think we need to hunt in order to control the animal population?

WP: Really what the HSUS does in the hunting realm is target the most egregious of cases, such as bear-bating or aerial hunting of wolves. It’s really only extremist organizations like the NRA and the U.S Sportsmen Alliance that recognize HSUS as “enemy number one” to their particularly inhumane practices.

Some of these groups will defend anything. Just as with agriculture we focus on these confinement methods and mutilations practices like tail-docking, with hunting we really concentrate on curving the worst of uses. We’re trying to hold hunters and farmers to their own self-professed standards and unfortunately there are folks within these industries who will just defend anything.

E: Now I always end with the same question for all the famous vegetarians I interview. If you had the chance to meet one person who you’ve found specifically instrumental in the vegetarian or animal rights community – dead or alive, past or present – who would it be and why?

WP: I’m sure that many people invoke his name, but I think it would probably be Gandhi. Not only because of his personal dietary regimen, but also for his role as the leader of an independent movement. He had to balance his personal habits with a larger political objective, and he obviously did it in a brilliant way. So I would have to choose him.

A big thank you to Wayne Pacelle and everyone at the HSUS for their incredible work. To learn more about how you can attend the Genesis Awards and help celebrate those who are making a difference, visit HSUS.org.

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi will be honored at the he Humane Society of the United States’ 23rd Genesis Awards for their efforts on behalf of animals!

The duo, who have been active on the vegan scene — as well as their incredible support for Proposition 2, will receive The Wyler Award, one of The Humane Society of the United States’ most prestigious honors. The honor is bestowed to a celebrity or public figure who has made news on behalf of animals, and is named after the late Genesis Awards founder Gretchen Wyler, the Broadway headliner and animal activist. From the release,

“Ellen and Portia stand up for their beliefs, and they have had a major impact in spreading the message about animal protection,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. “They had a particularly significant role in helping to pass Proposition 2, and they helped make the case to the people of California and to the rest of the nation that all animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food.”

The host of her own hit talk show, the multi-Emmy-winning The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ellen has used her distinctive comic and compassionate voice to raise awareness of many issues of humanitarian, environmental and animal welfare concern. Portia, who shares those values, has appeared in many socially significant TV series, including FX’s Nip/Tuck, Fox’s Arrested Development and Ally McBeal, and she will soon be seen in ABC’s Better Off Ted.

Past honorees of this award have included Sir Paul McCartney and Hayden Panettiere. Congrats to the two of them on the honor — and we applaud their work on behalf of animal welfare and legislation.

The Genesis Awards take place on Saturday, March 28, 2009. For more information on the event, jump here.

Photo: Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at the 35th Annual People’s Choice Awards, January 7, 2009. Credit: PR Photos

- Ellen DeGeneres continuing to speak out on why both herself and Portia de Rossi went vegan. Obviously we are beyond excited to have Ellen and Portia on Team VEG and pumped that she’s promoting one of our favorite documentaries, Earthlings! Welcome to the club, you guys!

via: timesoftheinternet.com
photo credit: prphotos.com

On last night’s The Office, Scranton-branch Manager Michael Scott offered to donate money to a charity that Dwight Schrute doesn’t like as compensation for a failed safety exercise. Dwight softly muttered “PETA” as his charity of choice. I guess Dwight’s displeasure with bears – or basically anything with fur – is probably enough of a reason for him to have a beef with the animal rights organization. Expect a protest down at Schrute Farms shortly. Watch the full episode here.

Michelle Obama’s preferred fashion designer, Jason Wu, has certainly risen to fame quickly for his gowns for the First Lady. So what can we expect from him in the future? Fur. Ugh. “I’m doing a significant fur collection, and the message will be all about luxury,” he revealed to The Daily. “Fashion is also sort of escapism, and women need beautiful dresses to lose themselves in.” I won’t disagree on making beautiful dresses — but why ruin such a high-profile rise to stardom with a line of fur clothing? Even more interesting to see is whether or not Michelle Obama will shun Wu for this dumb move. [Read more...]

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi – who got married last August – threw a star-studded joint birthday party at their Beverly Hills house on Saturday. Even though the two aren’t the same age (Ellen is 51 and Portia is 36), their bdays are only a few days apart. Of course, as expected, guests were treated to a lavish all-vegan meal — as well as tunes spun by DJ Samantha Ronson. In attendance were Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and her husband David Arquette, Drew Barrymore, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Stiller.

Recently at the Winter TCA’s Portia expressed interest in starting her own line of vegan footwear. What the Natalie Portman is going on? 

Portia and Ellen have been animal-lovers for many years, but just recently came out of the vegan closet. However, according to Contact Music, the duo had decided to go vegan on their very first date. Portia reveals:

“When Ellen and I first got together I was wearing fur and Ellen was wearing very expensive Italian calfskin leather. She was giving me a hard time about wearing the fur and I said, ‘Why is a fox any more important than a cow?’ …We took that idea and went all the way with it. We are doing what we can.”

Here at the Razz we’re always excited to hear about famous folks getting involved and making positive change… and of course we love ourselves some hot veggie celebs! Stay tuned for more news of Portia’s vegan shoe line! We’re pretty sure this is going to be AWESOME!

photo credit: prphotos.com

Jennifer Aniston

This weekend, Aniston threw a holiday/housewarming party at her new Beverly Hills mansion for some of her close friends, including veggie-superstars Ellen DeGeneres, Portia De Rossi, Tobey Maguire and his wife, Jennifer Meyer.

Now as many vegetarians and vegans know, the holidays can be a bitch when it comes to eating at parties. See also: GET THAT DEAD TURKEY AWAY FROM ME!!! But Aniston proved to be a classy broad and made sure the catered event included lots of vegan food for her meat-free friends. SCORE!

As somebody who knows what it feels like to attend those holiday parties that are less than veg-friendly, I so appreciate Jennifer’s gesture and am sure that our favorite famous veggies did too! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

via: starmagazine.com