Animals provide emotional support to those who care for them. Robert Downey Jr., famous for playing Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has always shown a deep affection for animals. The superhero actor has gained recognition for displaying his gentle side with his dogs.
Robert also portrayed Doctor Dolittle, a veterinarian who can communicate with animals. This role seemed fitting for him, as he has a natural affinity for animals, keeping various pets at his Malibu home.
He and his wife, Susan, adopted two cats who quickly became part of their family.
The Hollywood actor named the rescue kittens Monty and D’Artagnan.
Robert has stated that he can’t imagine his life without the animals he has rescued.
In 2017, he saved Moly, a black cat who needed a safe home. After a traumatic past, Moly finally received the love and protection he deserved.
Moly is social and outgoing, and he feels fortunate to have his family’s love.
Susan mentioned that D’Artagnan is often difficult to read, making it hard to tell if he is happy or sad. Despite being a sleepy cat, he gets along well with the other animals in the house.
Robert admitted that he was initially hesitant to adopt rescue animals due to their distressing situations. However, he couldn’t resist bringing them into his home and now believes he couldn’t live without them.
In addition to cats and dogs, the Downeys also have alpacas, which resemble llamas and are kept as pets.
Their home features expansive green backyards where the animals can play as they would in the wild.
The animal-filled garden has attracted attention, built using sustainable materials and housing rescued animals such as goats, chickens, pigs, cows, and alpacas.
After learning about animal abuse, Robert Downey Jr. became a vegan.
At the Dr. Dolittle premiere, he praised his wife’s talent as a producer, saying:
“She’s the most incredible creative producer in film history, and I make funny faces for money and chicken, even though I don’t eat chicken anymore. I’m adopting a plant-based diet,” he stated.
The actor founded the Footprint Coalition to combine robotics and nanotechnology to help clean up the world.
His decision to become vegan supports this goal, as livestock processing significantly contributes to climate change and plastic debris in the oceans.
Ruby Rose, who portrays Batwoman in DC’s Arrowverse, is also an animal rights and environmental activist. She became a vegan after learning about the cruel treatment of animals.
“I ate something called ‘shark fin soup’ regularly and had no idea it was real shark fin,” she said. “When I found out, I was devastated and cried for three weeks.”
“It felt even worse knowing the sharks had their fins cut off and were left unable to move,” she added. “That horrified me; I pictured them swimming without fins, unable to eat.”
Fans of Robert Downey Jr. and other real-life heroes who advocate for animal and environmental rights commend their actions and draw inspiration from their efforts.
