via Contact Music

He may be the meanest judge on American Idol, but Simon Cowell apparently has a soft spot for animals. Simon has donated a whopping $30,000 of his own money to the World Heart Foundation, which is a Los Angeles animal shelter that helps homeless, abandoned, and abused animals. The foundation was having financial trouble, and without Simon’s generous donation, they would have been forced to close down! The shelter is run by the actress Linda Blair – you may know her as the girl whose head spins around in the classic horror flick The Exorcist – and Simon says that after seeing photos of the dogs she’s helped out, he was compelled to write the check.

Don’t have $30,000 to spare? Don’t worry! You can still do a lot to help out animals in need. Call your local animal shelter and ask what they need most – maybe they’re short on blankets, toys, leashes, or grooming supplies. You can then organize a collection drive at your school and give the donations you receive to the shelter. Want to spend time with the animals themselves? Volunteer to walk dogs, play with cats, or clean cages. And if you’re looking to get a new pet, read up on why you should adopt, not buy.