This photo shows our Co Founder with Baroness Gale and Brian May in the House of Lords receiving The International Fund For Animal Welfare’s Campaigner 2012 winner award on the 23rd October 2012.
The Animal Action Awards, sponsored by the Sunday Express newspaper and supported by Nat Geo Wild, are part of IFAW’s annual Animal Action Week which takes place around the world involving thousands of schoolchildren who are motivated to get involved in animal welfare. This year’s Animal of the Year Award is sponsored by Animal Friends,https://www.animalfriends.co.uk/
Each year the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) recognises outstanding achievements in animal welfare at a prestigious ceremony at the House of Lords in October. Winners represent the breadth of work undertaken to help animals in the UK and overseas and regularly recognise those who devote their lives to rescuing domestic and wild animals, as well as a special ‘Animal of the Year.’ Last year’s winners included TV favourite Rolf Harris in recognition of his life’s work with animals and his campaigning against the Canadian commercial seal hunt. This year’s award ceremony took place on the 23rd of October and was hosted by Baroness Gale and awards were presented by Queen legend, Brian May.
The Co Founder of Conservatives Against Fox Hunting founded three wildlife campaigns since 2010 and received a special recognition award as Campaigner of The Year 2012 in the House of Lords. http://www.ifaw.org/united-kingdom/news/singing-praises-our-uk-animal-heroes-house-lords
Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “Lorraine is a force of nature – her ability to put forward her message for the improvement of animal welfare is second to none. She is a very worthy recipient of our Campaigner of the Year Award.”
Lorraine said: “I am delighted to have won this prestigious award. I am so proud and honoured to have been acknowledged by IFAW for my campaigning work.
“A huge thank you to all the Conservative and cross-party MPs, and people who have supported, helped and share my dream of campaigning and working together to protect wild animals from unnecessary suffering. A final massive thank you to IFAW for seeing the value in my contribution to wildlife protection work.”
Article about the awards on the Politics .co.uk website here:http://www.politics.co.uk/opinion-formers/international-fund-for-animal-welfare-ifaw/article/ifaw-animal-heroes-from-around-the-uk-to-receive-awards1
This year’s winners include former Olympian Fiona Oakes, from Essex, who runs a sanctuary for 400 rescued animals, 365 years a day without having taken a holiday or even gone for a meal out in 16 years. Receiving awards alongside Fiona will be young vet Vikki Fowler, from Lancashire, who is honoured for rescuing and rehabilitating neglected horses and Julie Hinks from Hampshire, who cares for and rehomes tortoises, many of which are rescued after being smuggled into the UK illegally.
Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “We are delighted to be able to highlight the fantastic work done by all the winners of IFAW’s 2012 Animal Action Awards. We believe their stories are truly inspirational and hope that their example will encourage others to do all they can to protect animals. They are all true animal heroes.”
This year’s animal of the year award goes to Haatchi, an Anatolian shepherd dog who suffered horrific injuries after being tied to a railway line and hit by a train. Haatchi survived the amputation of a rear leg and his tail and was adopted by Colleen Drummond, her fiancé Will Howkins and his seven-year-old son Owen, in Hampshire. After forging an amazing friendship with Owen, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, the family decided his gentle nature would make him an ideal Pets as Therapy dog to work with amputee soldiers and seriously ill children.
Also honoured is Kate Williams, a volunteer pet foster carer with Bolton-based Paws for Kids, which provides specialised support for women and children pet owners in the North West who are fleeing domestic violence. Helen Griffiths, from Dorset, receives an award for her tireless rescue of animals, particularly dogs, over the last 20 years, rehabilitating traumatised animals and finding them new homes. Elsewhere, Grace Yoxon, from the Isle of Skye, is recognised for her global work in otter conservation.
Campaigner of the year award goes to Lorraine Platt from Surrey for her work encouraging Conservative Party members to speak out in favour of the UK ban on hunting with dogs and other animal welfare issues through ‘The Blue Fox: Conservatives Against Fox Hunting’. Sheila Stewart from Mold, North Wales, receives an animal rescue award for rescuing thousands of birds and animals over more than 30 years. An international campaigner award will be given to Sigursteinn Masson, for his work publicly opposing whaling and encouraging whale conservation in his native Iceland.
Read about the award on Brian May’s website here:
