Melya Kaplan is the Founder and Executive Director of Voice For The Animals Foundation (VFTA), an organization she established in 1999 to protect animals through rescue, advocacy, education, and legislation. For more than two decades, she has been a pioneering force in the animal rights movement—leading landmark campaigns, producing influential films, shaping legislation, and developing innovative programs that save lives.
Leadership & Advocacy
Melya’s groundbreaking work has transformed the landscape of animal protection. She co-founded the Animal Cruelty Task Force with the Los Angeles Police Department, the first of its kind in the nation. This four-agency collaboration between LAPD, the District Attorney’s office, the City Attorney’s office, and Animal Services remains unique in the United States, with designated prosecutors who oversee cruelty cases through trial. Melya also secured funding for the Task Force in both 2007 and 2021, ensuring its long-term sustainability.
Her dedication to law enforcement training began in the 1990s, when she organized animal cruelty training sessions for LAPD officers. These efforts later extended internationally—most notably in Greece, where she organized seminars for 700 Hellenic police officers. This training, which included experts from LAPD, led directly to stronger animal protection laws. In Cyprus, she assisted with legislation that created a police animal cruelty unit, now written into law.
Melya has been at the forefront of major legal battles for elephants in Los Angeles. She spearheaded the Ruby lawsuit, bringing Ruby the elephant back from Knoxville to the LA Zoo before securing her release to the PAWS sanctuary, where Ruby spent her final years in peace among other elephants. She also led the Billy lawsuit, challenging the LA Zoo’s elephant exhibit and calling for Billy’s transfer to sanctuary. Her campaign to expose abuse and corruption at the LA Zoo forced the retirement of Zoo Director John Lewis and fueled a citywide movement to close the elephant exhibit.
Film & Media
Melya has brought animal advocacy to the screen as both consultant and producer. She was a consultant for HBO’s Emmy-nominated documentary An Apology to Elephants and served as Executive Producer of Elephants + Man: A Litany of Tragedy, a powerful film documenting the historic abuse of elephants. She also produced a film about Billy, the elephant at the LA Zoo, narrated by Cher, which was shown widely in Los Angeles and internationally.
Innovative Programs
Melya is also the creator of the Working Cats Program, an innovative initiative that has saved the lives of thousands of feral cats by placing them as natural rodent deterrents in businesses, schools, police stations, and homes. Instead of using poison, which harms both wildlife and the environment, rats naturally avoid the scent of cats. This humane and eco-friendly program has now been adopted in over 100 jurisdictions across the United States and Europe.
She also spearheaded campaigns in Los Angeles that led to historic protections for animals, including a six-year effort that culminated in the ban on animal sales on public property, and a successful campaign to restrict dogs on Ocean Front Walk during the summer months.
Education
Melya has been committed to education from the start. She created and taught the first animal rights classes in Los Angeles schools, introducing students at Crossroads and New Roads to the ethics of animal protection. She also continues to mentor activists and collaborate with policymakers, community leaders, and artists to raise awareness and inspire change.
Artistic Work
Before founding VFTA, Melya was an acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. She performed internationally as lead dancer, teacher, and choreographer for the Rallou Manou Dance Company in Athens, Greece, and created groundbreaking works, including Keharitomenes, the first performance in Greek history by women, about women, for women. Her creative work spans choreography, performance, and film—exploring themes of mythology, feminism, and transformation.
She has written several screenplays, including Animal Cop, based on the true story of the first police officer to establish an animal abuse unit. Her short film Pretty Face, which she produced, directed, and starred in, won multiple awards and aired nationally. Her artistic endeavors continue to complement her activism, bringing storytelling and creativity to her advocacy.
Melya Kaplan’s life and work exemplify the power of compassion in action. Through Voice For The Animals Foundation, her films, her groundbreaking programs, and her international advocacy, she has reshaped how animals are seen, treated, and protected across the world.
Speaking Engagements & Collaborations
As a thought leader in animal welfare, Melya frequently speaks at conferences, universities, and legislative hearings. She collaborates with policymakers, veterinarians, and activists to drive meaningful change for animals worldwide.
How You Can Support Melya’s Mission
Melya Kaplan’s work is made possible through the support of compassionate individuals like you. Here’s how you can help:
- Donate – Contributions fund rescue efforts and advocacy campaigns.
- Volunteer – Join VFTA’s programs and make a direct impact.
- Share – Spread awareness by sharing Melya’s work on social media.
Learn More
Visit www.vftafoundation.org to learn more about Melya Kaplan’s mission and how you can get involved.
For media inquiries or speaking requests, contact info@vftafoundation.org.
Melya Kaplan – Accomplishments
- Founder & Executive Director of Voice For The Animals (1999–present)
- Consultant to HBO film An Apology to Elephants
- Executive Producer of Elephants + Man: A Litany of Tragedy (documentary on elephant abuse; premiered nationally)
- Created & taught the first Animal Rights classes in Los Angeles (Crossroads & New Roads schools)
- Working Cats Program creator – saves thousands of feral cats by placing them as rodent control in businesses, homes, schools, and public institutions; adopted in 100+ jurisdictions across the U.S. and Europe
- Organized two LAPD animal cruelty trainings:
- 1996 – Trained 25 officers
- 1999 – Trained 55 officers
- Spearheaded campaign that encouraged DA Steve Cooley to establish an animal cruelty prosecution unit in the DA’s office
- Co-founder of the Animal Cruelty Task Force (with LAPD, Animal Services, City Attorney, and DA’s office) – only U.S. task force with designated prosecutors overseeing each case through trial
- Secured funding for the Task Force (2007, 2021)
- Organized two seminars/training sessions on animal cruelty for 700 Hellenic police officers in Athens, resulting in stronger animal abuse laws in Greece
- Assisted in formulating a law in Cyprus to establish an animal cruelty police unit (passed Parliament; training currently underway)
- Spearheaded the Ruby lawsuit, successfully bringing Ruby from Knoxville back to the LA Zoo and ultimately to PAWS Sanctuary
- Spearheaded the Billy lawsuit to close the elephant exhibit at the LA Zoo and send Billy to sanctuary
- Executive Producer of the Billy documentary (narrated by Cher; widely screened in Los Angeles and internationally)
- Exposed John Lewis, head of the LA Zoo, for lying to City Council, resulting in his forced retirement
- Led the citywide campaign to close the LA Zoo elephant exhibit
- Spearheaded a 6-year campaign to stop animal sales on public property – basis for the Los Angeles City Council’s ban on animal sales on public property
- Spearheaded the ban on dogs on Ocean Front Walk during summer months
Melya Kaplan – Artist
- Lead dancer, teacher & choreographer, Rallou Manou Dance Company (Athens, Greece)
- Choreographed & performed on ERT Greek Television
- Created Variations on Theme-Ing with Evripides Tsakirides (performed in Athens at HAU)
- Created 6 with Evripides Tsakirides (performed in Athens at HAU)
- Researched & reinterpreted Greek mythology to uncover themes of patriarchal takeover of matriarchal traditions
- Co-wrote Orestes (modern interpretation of Aeschylus’ Oresteia) with Evripides Tsakirides; performed in Athens & Los Angeles
- Created Keharitomenes – first performance evening in Greek history by women, about women, for women (Doxiades Theater, Athens)
- Choreographed & performed Heirloom (CalArts grad project; later in Athens)
- Choreographed & performed Steam Song Crossing with sculptor Lloyd Hamrol (UC San Diego)
- Producer, actress, director & writer of short film Pretty Face (won national awards, aired on cable)
- Author of film script Beverly Hills Girl
- Author of film script You and Me
- Wrote Animal Cop – true story of the first police officer to create an animal abuse unit
- Wrote & created Athena – magical realism film about an animal heroine
LinkedIn: Melya Kaplan
Medium: https://medium.com/@melyakaplan