PALM BEACH, FL — Following public scrutiny over her attendance at a Mar-a-Lago event benefiting her animal welfare foundation, actress Katherine Heigl has issued a further clarification, assuring the public that the animals present were entirely apolitical and primarily interested in the catering.

“Look, these are rescue animals,” Heigl’s publicist, Brenda Carmichael, stated in a press release that somehow managed to sound both defensive and utterly bewildered. “They don’t care about electoral maps, tax brackets, or who’s currently suing whom. Their concerns are limited to kibble quality, belly rubs, and whether that one poodle is going to finish its mini quiche.”

The clarification comes after Heigl’s initial defense, where she reportedly stated, “Animals don’t vote,” a sentiment that, while factually accurate, failed to quell online discourse regarding the optics of the venue choice. Critics suggested that while animals may not cast ballots, their human advocates often do, and might prefer their philanthropic efforts to remain politically neutral.

“We understand the confusion,” Carmichael added, “but rest assured, no dog was coerced into endorsing any political platform. Their attendance was purely transactional: a few pats, maybe a stray shrimp, and a comfortable spot to nap. They were there for the good cause, not the good old boys.”

Sources close to the event confirmed that several golden retrievers were seen attempting to unionize for better treat distribution, but their efforts were quickly dismissed as “adorable but non-binding.”