GSPCA being recognised on the International stage with the prestigious Ceva Animal Welfare Special Recognition Award
Submitted by Steve on 11:03, 20th Feb, 2017 |
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Following the most successful round of nominations to date, Ceva Animal Health has revealed its shortlist for its seventh annual Ceva Animal Welfare Awards.
Spanning seven categories, the shortlist for each award was decided following a day of deliberations by a panel of esteemed judges chaired by retired veterinary surgeon, Chris Laurence MBE MRCVS. Chris is the chairman of the Animal Welfare Foundation and BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association) and before retiring was chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA and veterinary director of Dogs Trust. He is also involved in a number of charities and is a trustee of the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Foundation.
The awards celebrate the achievements of remarkable people from the farming, veterinary and charity industries, who go beyond the call of duty to better the lives of animals around the world. Nominations were submitted by friends, family, clients and colleagues.
The finalists have been chosen and for those in each category they will have to wait until the 5th April to find out if they have won.
Saying this there is no wait for the GSPCA as we have been informed that although we were nominated the judges decided to recognise the work carried out here in Guernsey in a very special way.
The judges have decided that for 2017 for the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards they are presenting the GSPCA with a Special Recognition Award which has only been given on a handful of occasions to outstanding organisations for their contributions to animal welfare.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “This is without doubt one of the most humbling of achievements that could be bestowed upon the GSPCA as on the 5th April at the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards the work carried out here in Guernsey will be show cased on the International stage and recognised in a way never seen before.”
“We have an amazing team at the GSPCA that work 24/7 made of staff and volunteers as a family that strive to do our very best 365 days a year.”
“I honestly cannot think of a more prestigious example of an award that can be given to any animal welfare organisation and at the Shelter we were all shocked that the 2017 Ceva Animal Welfare Special Recognition Award is to be presented to the GSPCA in April.”
“To have been awarded the Guernsey Community Foundation Charity of the Year Award in November was a real shock but to be recognised on such an international stage is truly the most humbling achievements in our 144 year history at the GSPCA.”
“It has been an unbelievable year for the GSPCA from the 25 Slovakian puppies to Olivia the turtle, the many seal pups to the strays and unwanted pets we help every day, the wildlife to the community we help and serve it is wonderful that the judges for these awards thought our team on the stunning island of Guernsey was deserving and from all of us to them thank you we really cannot believe it when there are so many amazing organisations doing so much around the world.”
Chair of the judging panel, Chris Laurence, said “Judging gets more difficult each year as we receive more nominations and they get even more impressive.”
“It is humbling to witness the huge number of people who give their lives to animal welfare to the detriment of better paid jobs or simply going out and enjoying themselves.”
All finalists and a number of the team at the GSPCA have been invited to attend the glitzy award ceremony in Birmingham, on Wednesday 5th April where the winner of each award will be announced.
Lindsay Johnson from Ceva Animal Health said “Our 'Animal Welfare Awards' each year are a celebration of the very best people committed to the cause.”
“And yet, each year, we are always humbled by the dedication of all our nominees.”
“They all go beyond what is required of them and show true passion for what they do.”
Yvonne Chauvel Senior Animal Care Assistant said “Last week we welcomed Lindsay and Mike from Ceva who flew over to film the team and animals for a video that will be shown on the awards evening in April.”
“It was lovely to see them again as we met in 2015 when local vet and GSPCA President John Knight won the Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Veterinary Times and in the same year I was a finalist for the Charity Professional of the Year Award in association with PDSA.”
“Lindsay and Mike were lovely and so very kind about the work we carry out at the GSPCA and they really loved meeting many of the animals in our care.”
“Last year Ceva were extremely supportive donating and highlighting on their social media the story of Olivia the loggerhead turtle.”
“All of the team really can’t believe it and it is wonderful that Ceva have not only invited us to the evening but are also helping us get there in April.”
The shortlist for the 2017 Ceva Animal Welfare Awards is as follows:
Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Veterinary Times
Andrew Gardiner from Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Richard Saunders from the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund
Jenny Stavisky from the University of Nottingham
Welfare Nurse of the Year Award in association with VN Times
Sarah Dawson from Vets4Pets in Walton Vale, Liverpool
Samantha Shand from Quarrington Veterinary Surgery in Sleaford
Ellisah Raven from Bransby Horses in Lincoln
Charity Professional of the Year Award (UK & International) – in association with PDSA
Lesley Winton, founder of the Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears & Fostering Compassion
Dr Stephen Blakeway, director of international operations at The Donkey Sanctuary
Ali Taylor, head of canine behaviour and training at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Charity Team of the Year Award (UK & International) - in association with Your Cat and Your Dog magazines
Mission Rabies
Mitchelson Found Animals Foundation
Dogstar Foundation, Sri Lanka
Volunteer of the Year Welfare Award (UK & International) – in association with Blue Cross
Maureen Smith from the National Animal Welfare Trust in Berkshire
Annie Blumenfeld from Wags 4 Hope, USA
Dean Bland from Well Equine in Yorkshire
Farm Animal Welfare Award (UK & International) – in association with R.A.B.I and NADIS
Dr Othieno O Joseph, a freelance veterinary journalist from Kenya
Katrine Bazeley, a retired veterinary surgeon from Dorset
Graham Duncanson, a retired veterinary surgeon from Norfolk
International Cat Care Welfare Award – in association with Agria Pet Insurance
International Cat Care will be choosing the winner of this award from its extensive membership base. The winner will be announced at the awards’ ceremony.
In addition to the scheduled categories, the judges have granted one additional award in special recognition of a charity’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare which is the GSPCA from Guernsey.
“We are amazed by both the quantity and quality of the nominations that we have received, which detail their overwhelming passion and commitment to animal welfare,” comments Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health.
“We are delighted to be able to honour these individuals and organisations and champion people involved in animal welfare, while raising awareness of this important work to wider audiences.”
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager continues “We are hugely grateful to Ceva and their wonderful team for all they do and have done for us.”
“Ceva have a wonderful range of products which we sell which help reduce stress in dogs and cats.”
“As well as helping when we were fund raising to get Olivia the loggerhead turtle to Gran Canaria Ceva have also helped with training for our team with their products and they have helped donate Feliway and Adaptil diffusers for the rescue pets in our care.”
“We are looking forward attending the award evening in April and will keep all up to date how it goes.”
Winners will be revealed and along with the GSPCA will be presented with their awards during a glitzy ceremony held in Birmingham ahead of BSAVA Congress on 5th April 2017.
The GSPCA are very proud to announce that we have been awarded the Guernsey Community Foundation Charity of the Year.
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