Norman Reedus, 'Walking Dead' Star, Urges U.S. Ban On Animal Testing For Cosmetics

'Walking Dead' Star Gets Behind Animal Rights Cause
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: Norman Reedus attends the screening of 'Sunlight Jr.' during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 20, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 20: Norman Reedus attends the screening of 'Sunlight Jr.' during the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 20, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Jennifer Graylock/FilmMagic)

Joining other celebs such as Sir Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, Ricky Gervais and Peter Dinklage, "The Walking Dead's" Norman Reedus is urging the U.S. to adopt a ban on animal tests for cosmetics.

"Scores of countries around the world are beating the U.S. to become cruelty-free by banning cosmetics tests on animals," he writes. "Nobody wants rabbits or guinea-pigs to suffer for our vanity, least of all the animals. Let's stop their suffering right here, right now. Join me in supporting the Cruelty Free International call to Congress and the FDA to bring an end to animal testing for cosmetics in the U.S."

Back in March, after decades of campaigning by Cruelty Free International’s founding organization, the BUAV, animal tests were banned for new cosmetics sold in all 28 countries in the European Union. Unfortunately, CFI states that over 80% of countries around the world still allow animal tests for cosmetics, including the U.S., Australia, Korea and Japan.

‘We are delighted that Norman has joined our mission to end cosmetic tests on animals worldwide," says CFI chief executive Michelle Thew. "Norman is using his voice on behalf of the countless animals who suffer in laboratories in cruel and outdated tests for consumer products. It is vitally important that the U.S. moves with the times and protects animals from unnecessary tests by embracing modern, non-animal science."

Reedus, who plays Daryl Dixon on the hit AMC zombie series, definitely has a soft spot for animals - telling GQ in an interview last year about a shelter cat he picked that others likely would not.

"I'm driving back to Manhattan with a cat in my lap right now," he told the magazine. "It's just this fat, black alley cat. My son wanted a black kitten when he was a kid, and I found it in the East Village in some rescue shelter, but it was born in a box and the guy that was getting rid of it was like, 'You don't want this cat. This cat's never gonna love anyone.' And the first time I saw it, it was like just hissing and scratching everything it saw and now it's like this big, fat, chill cat."

To learn more about Cruelty Free International's global campaign against animal testing, jump here.

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