BRIAN DAVIES AWARD 2020
Three hardworking animal welfare charities have been nominated for the international Brian Davies award for their exceptional work against all odds. Charities in Zimbabwe, Thailand and Jordan came out tops. Let’s see who won!
Network for Animals (NFA) works in far-flung locations across the word; places where the local conditions often make it extremely challenging to help animals.
Along the way we meet countless dedicated people who, often for no reward other than to help the animal, have devoted their lives to the wellbeing of animals.
It is that same spirit that motivated our founder and legendary animal welfare pioneer Brian Davies all his life. For more than 50 years Brian has crusaded for animals in the face of resistance and hostility from people who care nothing for the life of an animal be it a dog, seal or donkey.
It is to honor that extraordinary ethos that Network for Animals created the international Brian Davies Award, an annual accolade given to for those whose outstanding work succeeds in helping animals against overwhelming obstacles, whether it is in dangerous environments, without any financial or logistical support, or when individuals are met with local or political interference or resistance.
Each year, one exceptional animal rescue or welfare group we work with receives a $10 000.00 (£7 746.00; R166 000.00) grant as a salute and to assist them in their great work. This is over and above any other grant NFA gives them.
Runners up each receive $5 000.00 (£3 873.00; R83 000.00) as an acknowledgment of their own extraordinary achievements.
COMMENDATIONS FOR 2020
• Matabeleland Animal Rescue & Equine Sanctuary (MARES), in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
• Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
• Al Rabee Society for Nature and Animal Protection in Aqaba, Jordan
And the winner is…. MARES donkey sanctuary in Zimbabwe!
MATABELELAND ANIMAL RESCUE & EQUINE SANCTUARY
MARES works in very difficult circumstances. Zimbabwe is in total economic collapse, fodder and veterinary medicines are difficult to find and extremely expensive. Fifty five donkeys live at the sanctuary, all of them abandoned or rescued from abusive owners. Drought and poverty have led to an increase in the numbers of sick donkeys, which makes the need for medicine even greater. Working with determination and in spite of huge challenges MARES also crusades for the enforcement of animal welfare laws.
NFA supports MARES financially to ensure the donkeys are safe from slaughter and have both food and shelter.
NFA’s co-founders, Brian and Gloria Davies, are full of praise for the good work: “Network for Animals has been helping MARES for three years providing financial, veterinary and food aid for the donkeys. Claire Einhorn who runs MARES has so impressed us with her absolute relentless in helping animals. Indefatigable springs to mind!”
“Network for Animals works with so many dedicated people and organizations around the world that it is always so hard to choose a winner, Al Rabee in Jordan and Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary also do absolutely wonderful work, but what MARES is managing to achieve in spite of overwhelming difficulties is really exceptional.”
AL RABEE SOCIETY FOR NATURE AND ANIMAL PROTECTION
Al Rabee n Aqaba in Jordan rescues, rehomes and medically treats street dogs. Much of the time they do so in the face of outright hostility from local people as many people in Jordan consider street dogs vermin and try to kill them on sight. To make matters worse, the authorities often pay a bounty for the ‘capture’ of street dogs and sometimes dogs are shot openly in the streets or poisoned.
Al Rabee is one of very few no-kill shelters in Jordan and is always full. Presently it is home to 450 dogs. The Society also works to enforce notoriously lax animal welfare laws and, through local NGOs and the Ministry of Education, to change people’s attitudes to animals.
NFA supports Al Rabee with a monthly grant and the Society will use the $5 000.00 prize to create more comfortable living conditions for its dogs
BAAN UNRAK THAI ANIMAL SANCTUARY
In the northwest corner of Thailand in the Province of Kanchanaburi there is a remote border town (with Myanmar) called Sanghklaburi. It’s in the Golden Triangle area, heart of the poppy/heroin trade, in the region of the country-less Karin Hill Tribes, a couple hours from the Bridge over the River Kwai. The closest veterinarian is a four-hour journey. It is here that in 2007 the Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary was founded.
With the financial support from NFA the founders were able to establish a small veterinary clinic where they can now spay and neuter dogs, feed animals on the streets, find homes for rescue dogs and cats and provide basic animal welfare education in the area.
The on-street clinic has prompted more and more locals to bring their animals in for treatment, but they often have no means to pay. Through ongoing grants from NFA and the $5,000 Brian Davies runner up award, Baan Unrak will continue to do good things for the animals in this remote area of Thailand.
READ MORE
SA’s Fallen Angels wins first Brian Davies Award
Animal crusader in South African slum wins the Brian Davies Award
Zimbabwe’s shame – the cruel export of baby elephants
IMAGE CREDITS: Luke Barritt
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
