Tristan Fewings/Getty A dog named Felicity is becoming a fixture on the red carpet at Cannes Film Festival, making appearances at films includingMission Impossibleas she wears sparkling gowns The Samoyed belongs to French animal activist Julia De Cadenet, who founded NoToDogMeat and rescued the pup from a slaughterhouse in 2018 "It's a bit of light-heartedness and great publicity for what we are doing," she has said about bringing her dog to the star-studded event Although theCannes Film Festivalhas had plenty of actors, activists and more step out for red carpet appearances, one special guest has grabbed the festival's attention —a dog named Felicity. Since the 2025 festival began, French animal activistJulia De Cadenetand her Samoyed Felicity have hit the red carpet in style, with the furry white puprocking her frilly blue dressas photographers snap pictures of her and her owner. But who is De Cadenet, and how did Felicity end up on a film festival red carpet? Daniele Venturelli/WireImage Felicity has become somewhat of a well-known figure on the Cannes red carpet, as she and De Cadenet have made appearances for movie premieres includingSpike LeeandDenzel Washington's new filmHighest 2 Lowest,Mission Impossible - The Final Reckoningand more. Speaking withExpress.co.ukin August 2024, De Cadenet shared that Felicity's origins were much more humble. She shared that the Samoyed was rescued from China in 2018, in a slaughterhouse that she alleged was killing cats and dogs to be sold for meat. Working alongside other activists from the U.K.-based charity she founded in 2009 — calledWorld Protection for Dogs and Cats in the Meat Trade, or NoToDogMeat — De Cadenet told the British outlet that Felicity's tail had been cut off in the slaughterhouse, but she and other rescuers were able to take 17 pets from the facility and safely transport them to a shelter in northern China. "I brought her to France. Initially, she did have a home, but sadly when the person found out that she was missing her tail, she didn't want her anymore," De Cadenet said, sharing that she believed the Samoyed would only be living with her temporarily. "She ended up with me and I used to say to her, because she's very bossy, 'You are not going to stay here, I'm going to find you a home,'" the activist added. Cindy Ord/Getty Now, more than six years later, Felicity is living the luxurious festival life, making appearances at the star-studded event in part due to De Cadenet's background as a movie producer. The pup is also serving an important role as a "campaign dog," as De Cadenet has called her, as she helps to raise awareness about the pet meat trade and NoToDogMeat — as well as to help familiarize potential adopters with pets who have survived hardships like Felicity. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "This is what I have often found with adoptions of rescues, there are two types of people: There are the kind of people who say, 'I'll have any dog, I just want to give them a home and love,' and they do," she told Express. "Then there are other people who really want a breed dog and they want a perfect dog," she added. "Our dogs are not perfect, they are often missing limbs, eyes, tails, you know, they may not be perfect, and so they get rejected." According to De Cadenet, Felicity's Cannes appearances also simply serve as "a bit of light-heartedness and great publicity for what we are doing, whereas normally we are walking among hell and suffering." "She loves to meet people, she's meeting and greeting everyone," she added of her pup. Read the original article onPeople
