Simon Cowell Joins Cruelty Free International Campaign

As a judge on American Idol and The X Factor he has helped to make dreams of stardom come true for promising performers. Now in his role as an animal advocate Simon Cowell is helping people around the world with a passion for compassion turn the dream of ending dog experiments from reverie to reality.

The music mogul has stepped in front of famous photographer Rankin’s camera with his band of barking buddies to focus the public’s attention on the fact that 59,358 dogs were used in experiments last year in the United States, and 2,742 canines in the UK. The Beagle is the breed most likely to face their fate in lab experiments.

Discussing the international campaign, Cowell declared: “I have always loved dogs but had no idea how much happiness they would bring to my life. Squiddly, Diddly and now, Freddie are hugely important members of my family– and even the thought of any dog being mistreated sickens me. That’s why I’m supporting Cruelty Free International– to stop dogs being used for experiments in laboratories around the world. No dog should be treated in such a way. After all, they are man’s (and woman’s) best friend.”

Along with Simon Cowell, Downton Abbey star Michael Fox, violinist (and Cruelty Free International global ambassador) Vanessa-Mae, author Julian Clary and actress Eleanor Matsuura from the police drama series Cuffs have also posed with their pups to raise awareness of the paws cause.

Established in 1898 as the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection, the organization became Cruelty Free International in 2012. Cruelty Free International’s recent history includes successful campaigns to ban animal testing on new cosmetics in the UK and European Union and the launch of the Leaping Bunny program to help compassionate consumers through the display of a logo that ensures that household, cosmetic or personal care products are cruelty free.

For more information:

• visit www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/dogs

Photo Credit: Cruelty Free International