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British "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell - Source: Reuters
Simon Cowell secretly donates $250,000-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."
