Simon Cowell’s 51st Birthday Celebrated With 51 Free Desexing Surgeries

One look at his smiling face emblazoned on the side of the PETA US “Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please!” (SNIP) mobile veterinary clinic, and there’s little doubt that X Factor and American Idol creator Simon Cowell is a true friend to animals. That’s why PETA US is marking Cowell’s 51st birthday (October 7) by spaying and neutering 51 cats and dogs – free of charge – to help staunch America’s homeless animal crisis.

What better way to honour Simon on his birthday than to offer 51 free desexing surgeries – one to mark each year of his life? Every single surgery helps to take a bite out of the homeless animal crisis and spares kittens and puppies from being born into a world that has no place for them.

The numbers are staggering: Just one unaltered female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in only six years. In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can produce an incredible 420,000 kittens! PETA US’ low-cost spay-and-neuter surgeries have made a huge dent in the number of unwanted dogs and cats who must be euthanised each year because of a lack of good homes. Consider the following:

• So far this year, the fleet of mobile clinics has spayed and neutered more than 7,300 animals.
• Since its inception in 2001, the mobile clinics programme has sterilised a whopping 64,721 animals.
• In 2010 alone, PETA US has provided free transport to the clinics for more than 450 cats and dogs. For most of these animals, it was likely the only veterinary attention that they will ever receive.

It may be a slightly unusual gift, but given Simon’s empathy for animals, I’m sure it’s one that he’ll love.

Happy birthday, Simon!