[11] She had an unconventional childhood and was greatly influenced by her mother’s theosophical and spiritualist views who, as a vegetarian, an astrologer and a trained spiritual healer, held a weekly prayer healing circle at their home which Dowding and her sister Kathleen (Tottie) joined.

[11][12] Like her mother, she went on to become a Lecture Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Tunbridge Wells, set up her own absent healing circle and became involved with the White Eagle Lodge, a spiritualist association, becoming close to its founder Grace Cooke with shared ideals about non-violence to all animal life.

She hosted regular Sunday lunch parties introducing influential people to vegetarian food, and her house was a sanctuary for animals in need.

[14][16] His moving speeches in the House of Lords in support of the Humane Slaughter Bill concluded in legislation that eased animal suffering.

[1][18] In this post she led demonstrations, petitioned parliament and helped raise the anti-vivisection cause, representing the organisation at conferences in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Then, in 1955, Dr Harry Lillie, surgeon to the Antarctic whaling fleet, informed her about the cruelty involved in furs and the trapping of fur-bearing animals and the annual slaughter of baby harp seals off Atlantic Canada, leaving a deep and lasting impression on her.

Following numerous rejections, one firm finally agreed to cooperate and small labels bearing the slogan “Beauty Without Cruelty” were sewn into some coats.

Several friends were drawn into the idea and together they formed a volunteer committee to help spread a cruelty-free concept through fashion shows featuring simulated furs.

[17] Dowding grew interested in the composition of soap after learning about the tragic reports of the mutilation of whales by explosive harpoons, which Dr Harry Lillie had witnessed, along with their use in the production of lubricants and cosmetics.

[1] In 1972, with IAAPEA representatives she travelled to Poland, Finland and Russia to persuade their governments to set up institutes to investigate alternatives to research experiments on animals.

[24][25][26][27] In 1979, Dowding rallied in New York for a week of anti-fur protest coordinated by Dr. Ethel Thurston, head of BWC U.S.A. branch, to coincide with the American International Fur Fair.

[31][32] Supported by her second husband and family, Dowding’s sister, Kathleen Albino brought the Compassion quarterly journal into being, covering the activities of the movement and publishing articles on kindred subjects in the wider humanitarian field.

[14][32] What began as the philosophy of one small organisation eventually effected every cosmetic house worldwide and set a new standard for both consumers and manufacturers.

[5] In November 1998, the British Government announced that it would no longer license the testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients on animals and in the EU a ban took place in 2013.