Muriel Dowding was a humanitarian and animal rights activist, championing anti-vivisection, vegetarianism and animal welfare. She coined the term ‘cruelty-free’ and was a pioneer of that movement. Although her ideas were initially seen as cranky, through her persistence and practical demonstration of viable alternatives, they gradually entered the mainstream.
She founded the charity ‘Beauty Without Cruelty’ (BWC) in 1959, to highlight the suffering of animals in the fur and cosmetic trades, eliminate animal ingredients in these, abolishanimal testing and discourage the wearing of furs. Initially aiming to get manufacturers to change their policies, she moved on to demonstrate that cruelty-free alternatives were easily obtainable. This spearheaded a national campaign to change the industry.
In 1963 the charity became a private company, leading the way in the commercial production of synthetic furs and natural cosmetics not using animals. Kathrine Long, a well known animal rights activist and cosmetician played the key role in creating new products. After her death in 1969 Dowding stepped in to provide financial assistance to stop the organisation being shut down. She remained a Director until the organisation separated into a charity and business in 1980
She used her prominent social position to advance animal welfare, without any personal reward. She encouraged her second husband, the war hero Hugh Dowding, to use his position in the House of Lords to influence legislation on animal suffering. This contributed to the passing of the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act of 1964.
She was Vice President of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and President of the National Anti-Vivisection Society. For the remainder of her life she campaigned on a national and international level for these causes, despite a fear of public speaking.
Dowding died almost penniless, having given away her money to charitable causes. Her longer term legacy meant that the concept of not being tested on animals or containing animal ingredients became generally accepted, and set a new standard for consumers and manufacturers. In 1998 animal testing was banned in the UK, and the EU followed in 2013.
by Sue Delafons