Vegetarian Star

“I’ve always loved animals. When I was growing up, we had pets, and I was taught early on that you have to respect animals. All of the animals I have ever known, especially dogs, either like someone or they don’t. They can run up to some people and lick them, yet with others they just walk off because they are nervous. I always think that kind of thing probably says a lot. I honestly believe they have a sense about people and what they are like. But their charm is also their trust; when you have a pet, they have to trust you to take care of them. And that’s why I get so angry when you see animals hurt by [guardians] whom they trust.”

“Anywhere that an animal is being treated badly is horrific. I think the danger is always that people don’t act on things unless they see them with their own eyes. Sometimes it’s a bit like ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ and you have to remind people sometimes that things are going on all the time.”

—Simon Cowell, on how his background helped shape his support for the World Society for the Protection of Aniamals’ Universal Declaration for Animal Welfare (UDAW). The UDAW seeks worldwide consensus on protecting animals from abuse and neglect. The goal is to get endorsement of UDAW by the United Nations, which would then put pressure on governments around the world to demand higher standards for animal welfare. Simon’s story and more information on UDAW is featured in the September 2010 issue of Tails Inc.

Photo: PR Photos

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