SIMON COWELL - SIMON COWELL'S SECRET DOG DONATION

SIMON COWELL'S SECRET DOG DONATION

Animal lover Simon Cowell gives £100,000-a-year to a rescue shelter for dogs run by 'Exorcist' star Linda Blair.

Simon Cowell secretly donates £100,000-a-year to dogs.

The music mogul gives the massive sum to an animal shelter run by 'Exorcist' actress Linda Blair - who played possessed child Regan in the 1973 cult horror movie - in Toluca Lake, California, because he views it as the next best thing to having his own pet.

A source said "Simon is a huge dog lover but because he's always travelling he can't have one. He thought it would be a great idea to help Linda out.

"He doesn't like to talk about it as he sees it as a private arrangement."

The shelter - which cares for "neglected and abandoned" pooches - is much in need of Simon's cash-injection.

A statement on the shelter's website reads: "Due to the difficult times upon us, we are searching for every means possible to continue supporting animals who desperately need our help."

Simon - who has previously judged an RSPCA dog show - has a history of helping animals and has even claimed he plans to leave the bulk of his multi-million pound fortune to pet shelters.

He previously said: "I've never made a will and don't want to think about death. I'd leave some to a dogs' charity."