Teri Austin

Canadian-born actress Teri Austin is best known for her role as seductress Jill Bennett on the long-running primetime soap opera "Knots Landing" from 1985 to 1989. The show was a definite breakout role for the relatively unknown actress and opened up the door for steady work after she was written off the program. Before her role on "Knots Landing," she studied acting at Toronto's York University and, in 1981, landed a job as the co-host of a local talk show called "The Thrill of a Lifetime." Austin moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and snatched the role on the soap after only a few months. She appeared in a handful of programs, one of them the Lee Majors action show "The Fall Guy." Post-"Knots Landing," she guest-starred on numerous programs, including two episodes for the sitcom "Seinfeld" (playing a co-worker of George Costanza's), a small role in Brian De Palma's psychological thriller "Raising Cain," and a small role on the teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210." When not acting, Austin devotes her time to animal activism and is president of the Amanda Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to rescuing stray cats and dogs.

Teri Austin is a dedicated animal welfare advocate whose journey in animal rescue began in her hometown of Toronto, where she actively worked with the Toronto Humane Society and various local rescue groups. Her passion for animal care followed her as she moved to Los Angeles, where she encountered the Amanda Foundation. This organization, in its nascent stage, was dedicated to rescuing dogs and cats—a cause that immediately resonated with Teri.

Introduced to the foundation through her veterinarian, Teri saw the foundation's potential and the impact that could be made on the lives of companion pets in the sprawling city of Los Angeles. Over the years, Teri's involvement with the foundation grew, as did her conviction that helping animals was her calling. As she became more deeply embedded in the work of the Amanda Foundation, she found it to be far more rewarding than her pursuits in the entertainment industry.

Teri's dedication to animal rescue has led her to devote many years to the foundation, where she has been a pivotal part of its growth—from a modest operation with just a handful of dogs and cats to a recognized force in animal welfare. Her story mirrors her belief that caring for those without a voice can offer an unparalleled sense of fulfillment.