| The
Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award recognises a 'vet who
consistently demonstrates their commitment to the continued
improvement of companion animal welfare'.
There is one vet who immediately springs to mind as we ponder
this prestigious award, and that is Marc The Vet. Most dog
lovers and certainly D for Dog and Twitter readers will
have heard about Marc's anti-puppy farming campaign and
the massively popular and influential event Pup
Aid, which raises awareness of the UK’s cruel
puppy farming trade.
Pup
Aid is just one of the many things Marc does to promote
and try to improve animal welfare.
In case you haven't seen his CV, here is a little
summary of some of Marc's animal welfare work. And
it is rather impressive so make a cuppa and settle
down for a read.
I don't know about you but I am exhausted reading
all about Marc's work let alone doing it.
UK voluntary work includes |
|
• Pup Aid (founder) – Puppy Farming Awareness
Day – last 3 years inviting celebrities to judge dogs
in fun dog show, bands to play, parade of rescued ex-breeding
bitches, all to raise awareness of puppy farming and how to
get a dog to the tabloid demographic who are buying them,
and to encourage them to contact rescue or responsible breeder.
Thousands of pounds have been raised for Mayhew, Dog’s
Trust, Oldies Club and Kennel Club Charitable Trust. Celebrity
supporters include Liam Gallagher, Brian May, Bob Geldof,
Jamiroquai, Joanna Page, Eamonn Holmes, Britt Ekland, Eric
Clapton, Keith Richards, Meg Mathews, Ali Bastian, Caroline
Lucas MP, Helen Grant MP. One campaign involved a guitar signed
by rock legends that raised thousands of pounds at auction
and much needed awareness for rescue dogs and puppy farming.
• Kennel Club independent advisor – promoting
microchipping, responsible breeding, breed rescue, etc.
• Crisis UK – helping pets of homeless people
at Christmas
• Hearing Dogs – judge & celeb supporter
• Dogs Trust Honours – celeb supporter
• Mayhew Animal Home – judge & celeb supporter
incl. hospital visits with dogs
• Wet Nose Awards – judge & celeb supporter
• Scruffts (KC Charitable Trust) – judge
• Pink Dog Show (Manchester Dogs & Cats Home) –
judge & celeb supporter
• Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England –
judge & celeb supporter
• Queens Park Dog Show – judge & celeb supporter
• Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – judge &
celeb supporter
• RSPCA Patcham – judge & celeb supporter
• WSPA – campaigner & celeb supporter
• CIWF – campaigner & celeb supporter (Good
Egg Awards, Nocton Dairy)
• Four Paws – campaigner & celeb supporter
• NOWZAD – celeb supporter
• Seminars at Discover Dogs including pet emergencies,
puppy farming, dogs in war.
• No Voice No Choice fun day and celebration of responsible
dog ownership - celeb supporter
• A number of school visits educating children about
animal welfare
• Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) Good Egg Awards
– Presenter
• Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) ’Cows Belong
in Fields’ campaign – celeb supporter
• World Society Protection of Animals (WSPA) ‘Not
in My Cuppa’ campaign – celeb supporter
International
voluntary work includes
•
Thailand tsunami 2004 rescuing/treating/neutering raising
over £1000
• Amazon charity neutering/education project in Iquitos,
Peru
• Mumbai Slums with Welfare stray Dogs India (WSD) neutering/vaccination/education
• Palestinian West Bank with Safe Haven for Donkeys
in Holy Land (SHADH) field clinics, minor ops/education
Parliamentary
campaining
•
Regularly attending Parliament to campaign and lobby MPs about
animal welfare issues including puppy farming, farm rabbit
welfare, etc.
• Lobbying with Speaking Out For Animals about compulsory
microchipping
• Meeting with MPs and Four Paws UK about welfare of
farmed rabbits
• Active (and successful) campaigner with CIWF &
WSPA against Nocton megadairy
Charity
Patron/Trustee
•
Oldies Club – charity that rescues and rehomes older
unwanted dogs
• Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England –
charity rehoming and rescuing mainy Labradors
• Speaking Out For Animals (SOFA) – school group
campaigning for compulsory microchipping of dogs
• Cat Welfare Sussex
• Safe Haven for Donkeys in Holy Land – charity
rescuing abused donkeys
Media
Work promoting animal welfare via
•
TV – resident vet giving advice on BBC Breakfast, ITV
This Morning, Daybreak, Crufts, Alan Titchmarsh Show, as well
as Paul O’Grady Show, It’s Me Or the Dog, My Pet
Shame, Animal Rescue Live and few programmes in the States.
• Radio – resident vet giving advice on BBC Sussex,
Juice FM, many regional stations as part of animal welfare
campaigns, e.g. pet obesity, fireworks night.
• Print – written over 1000 pet related articles
for local, special interest, professional, national press/media.
• Web – raising awareness about animal welfare/charity/pet
health tips via my blog, Twitter, Facebook Page, etc.
• iPhone app – Canine Care – designed to
help dog owners look after their dogs better with preventative
healthcare videos and tips, find nearest vet button and much
more.
• Books – ‘stealth education’ via
Vet on Call (published March 2011) and children’s book
Pets in Need (Feb 2012)
• Love Pets Show – host & celeb supporter
• Pedigree Adoption Drive ambassador promoting rescue
dogs
You can vote for Marc by either writing why he deserves to
win this award or simply cutting and pasting the above achievements
and emailing welfare.awards@ceva.com
or download a form here
and send it to The Ceva Awards for Animal Welfare, Ceva Animal
Health, Unit 3, Anglo Office Park, White Lion Road, Amersham
HP7 9FB.
Closing date 27th January 2012.
For more information and press clippings please visit the
Marc
The Vet website. |
