Jay Sean Wants You To Make A Shelter Dog ‘All Yours’

For Immediate Release:
7 June 2012

Contact:
Ben Williamson 0207 357 9229, ext 229; [email protected]

London – He rose to international fame with his hit single “Down”, but when it comes to doing the right thing by a homeless dog or cat, British-Asian music sensation Jay Sean tells it straight up. That’s why PETA has teamed up with him for a brand-new ad that aims to take a bite out of the homeless cat and dog crisis. In the ad, Sean is decked out in denim and standing next to his rescued mutt Stella. The caption reads, “Adopt – Don’t Buy”, and the ad goes on to make it clear that every time someone buys a cat or a dog from a breeder or a pet shop, a healthy and wonderful animal awaiting adoption in an animal shelter loses the chance to find a loving home.

Sean took time out of his whirlwind schedule promoting “I’m All Yours” – his new single with American rapper Pitbull – to sit down for an exclusive PETA UK interview:

“[U]p until I had a dog, I didn’t realise the connection you actually have, that I have, with animals”, says Sean, who is also an ardent fur foe. “And you realise that just because they’re animals, you can’t treat them any less than you would a human being.” He adds, “[P]arents might not know that they can go to a shelter to adopt one rather than going to a store to buy one … You know that they’ve had their vaccinations and have been neutered – so they go through all those checks before you even get them”.

Each year, thousands of cats and dogs in animal shelters must be killed because there aren’t enough good homes for them. Other animals are abandoned on the streets, where they starve to death, get injured or killed by vehicles or fall prey to abuse. Adopting, not buying, is the answer. Also, the best way to minimise the number of homeless cats and dogs is by always having companion animals spayed or neutered.

In 2009, Jay Sean’s American debut single “Down” featuring Lil Wayne sold more than 6 million copies worldwide, making him the most successful British male urban artist in US chart history. With this song, Sean became the first solo artist of Asian descent to top the Billboard Hot 100. He also won Best Male, Best Urban Act and Best Album at the 2009 UK Asian Music Awards and Best Collaboration at the 2009 UK Urban Music Awards. Sean was born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti in northwest London’s Harlesden area, to Punjabi Sikh immigrant parents. He was raised in Southall, West London, and along with the Rishi Rich Project, he is a pioneer of Bhangra-R&B fusion.