Keith grew up in Los Angeles, California, with a house full of animals. Ever since she was a small child, Shannon rescued injured and homeless animals and nursed them back to health or placed them in loving homes.
In later life, Keith became an animal rights activist, documentary film maker and animal rights lawyer. Animals are considered property, and she has striven to change that fact while defending animal rights activists in the courtroom, saving dogs condemned to death in Los Angeles, as well as litigating against those who abuse animals.
She has saved dogs from being euthanized in Los Angeles, and in 2000, she obtained the largest settlement against the City of Los Angeles for the beating to death of a dog by a city employee.[3]
Circa 2002,[4] Shannon began to challenge the media with her strong message in support of animal liberation actions and activists.
In 2004, Shannon started a non-profit, tax-exempt group called ARME (Animal rescue media education). ARME rescues homeless animals and focuses on stopping the problem at its roots through educational initiatives, including making documentaries about animals and animal activists.
Shannon Keith founded Beagle Freedom Project and its predecessor companies. Founded in 2004 as "ARME (Animal Rescue, Media & Education)", in 2018 it changed its name to "Rescue + Freedom Project" with Kevin Kjonaas as secretary, and in 2019 was changed to "Beagle Freedom Project".[5]
^Huntingdon Life Sciences Inc. v. Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty USA, Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District Court, Division One, State of California, June 1, 2005.