RSPCA Honours special contributions to animal welfare

Monday, 5 September 2011 11:09 AM

RSPCA: Awards ceremony hosted by Brian Blessed

Saturday 3 September saw the winners of the RSPCA Honours awards being presented with their prizes by actor and television presenter, Brian Blessed.

RSPCA Honours is now in its second year and includes awards for special merit and ability amongst the Society’s inspectors; humanitarian awards for those who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of animal welfare; and awards for special investigations.

Last year’s winners included Steve Ibinson, a reporter whose outstanding undercover work on dog fighting was posthumously recognised with the Richard Martin Gold Award, the highest recognition of an outstanding contribution to animal welfare. 

This year the winners included chief inspector Rob Melloy of the North region who was presented with the Gordon Jones Award. Rob earned his award partly for his services in ensuring the welfare of animals at the annual Appleby Horse Fair.

Another inspector, Dave McAdam, was presented with the Dave Millard Award for exemplary special investigation. Inspector McAdam’s approach to investigation was illustrated after an owner whose cat was subject to offences under the Animal Welfare Act wrote to him expressing her thanks for the professional and caring way that he dealt with the situation.

The William Wilberforce Award, named after one of the RSPCA’s founding members and a campaigner for abolition of the slave trade, was presented to Jill Robinson, from Animals Asia, who has worked tirelessly to end the practice of farming black bears for their bile in Asian countries and setting up sanctuaries for those bears rescued from a life of misery.

Two brave members of the public were the joint recipients of the Elsie MJ Evans Bronze Award. Emma Campbell and Martin Phillis helped to rescue a young dog named Dino from his owner who was violently attacking him in the street. The owner was prosecuted and Dino was able to begin a happy new life thanks to his rescuers.

A freelance journalist has also received an award for special investigation. Danny Penman has worked undercover on several animal welfare stories, including the Canadian seal hunt, conditions in British circuses and the fur industry. He has ensured a higher profile for these issues and helped towards the conditions being improved for the animals themselves.

In presenting the awards, Brian Blessed, who is also a Vice-President of the RSPCA, said: “My support for the work of the RSPCA is long-standing. The Society’s vision is to have a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with members of the animal kingdom and it believes, as do I, that how we treat animals defines us not only as people but also as a society.

“I am pleased to be involved with RSPCA Honours, which recognises extraordinary people who have transformed the lives of many, many animals and are a true inspiration to us all.”

The awards ceremony took place in the atrium at the RSPCA’s headquarters in Southwater, West Sussex on Saturday 3 September.

Case studies follow.

Notes to editors

To arrange to contact any of the award winners please call the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244/0288.

Case studies

Anderson Plumbe Award Winners

Inspector Marije Swager (South West)

Inspector Swager has been with the RSPCA for seven and a half years and was nominated for her outstanding professionalism, continual drive to raise welfare standards and a very high standard of case work. In the past year, she has investigated 363 complaints and undertaken 30 rescues.

Inspector Laura Bryant (South East)

Inspector Bryant has been with the RSPCA for over four years. In the past year, she has investigated 592 complaints and carried out 291 animal collections. Inspector Bryant was nominated for her professional and enthusiastic attitude and her additional work in dealing with feral cats in her area. She has personally taken the lead on trapping cats, getting them neutered and returning them to the area, continually looking out for their welfare.

Inspector Vikki Dawe (South East)

Inspector Dawe has in the past year investigated 573 complaints, collected 142 animals and secured 16 convictions for cruelty. In her three years with the Society, inspector Dawe always looks to improve our welfare work and makes positive suggestions. She also has an outstanding knowledge of animal welfare legislation.

Gordon Jones Award – for inspectors with more than seven years service who have shown outstanding ability, efficiency and devotion to duty.

Winner - Chief inspector Rob Melloy (North)

Chief inspector Melloy was nominated for this award because of his role in ensuring the welfare of animals at the annual Appleby Horse Fair which takes place in June in Cumbria. He has taken the work of the RSPCA at the fair to new heights with ongoing proactive work carried out to enhance the RSPCA’s relationship with the travelling community and to improve the welfare of animals at the event.

At each fair, chief inspector Melloy organises vets and equine charities and coordinates their work with at least 30 RSPCA officers on site to patrol and target specific areas before, during and after the fair.

Jeanne McBride Award – for a member of staff who has made the most progress under training

Winner – Animal welfare officer Derek Hampson (North)

AWO Hampson has been with the RSPCA for 12 years and has collected 1,124 animals in the last year alone. He works closely with Merseyside Police Dog Section on dealing with those dogs which are categorised as ‘dangerous’ and they rely on Derek’s experience of handling these dogs.

Dave Millard Award – Given in the memory of Superintendent Dave Millard who served the Society for 37 years and instilled in his inspectorate teams a sense of pride in carrying out full and extensive enquiries into complaints, ensuring animal welfare was dealt with in a thorough and meticulous fashion. The award is given for exemplary special investigation.

Winner – Inspector Dave McAdam (East)

Inspector McAdam was recognised for his work in consistently striking the balance between fairness and firmness when dealing with people responsible for animals. 

An example of inspector McAdam’s professional and caring approach came in a letter from a member of the public. She had been investigated by inspector McAdam for offences under the Animal Welfare Act and her cat was removed and taken to a vet. Far from criticising his actions, she wrote: “You were so considerate when you interviewed me, you never seemed to judge me, just the situation I had allowed to happen. Thank you for how you dealt with me and my situation, I appreciate that you are just doing your job and I can only respect you for that.”

Queen Victoria Silver Medal – awarded to members of the Society in recognition of long and meritorious service

Winner – Ken Butler, branch representative for RSPCA Canterbury & District Branch

RSPCA branches are independent charities, often run entirely by volunteers and depend on their help and support. Ken is a shining example of how important volunteers are to the RSPCA and just how generous they can be. He has dedicated 37 years of his life to being a voluntary chairman of RSPCA branches and remains a branch representative for the RSPCA Canterbury & District Branch.

Ken’s volunteering has included carrying out home visits for animals going to new homes, sharing his wealth of knowledge with other volunteers and trustees, fundraising and building display cases at RSPCA shops. He, and his wife Claire, are also key to the building of a brand new state of the art animal centre being built on the outskirts of Canterbury.

Charlotte Wright Award – awarded to under-16s in recognition for exceptional kindness or dedication to animals

Winner - Mallena Garton (aged 14, from Norfolk)

Mallena, who has overcome some learning difficulties at school, has helped to nurse and care for cats and kittens for the last eight years at her grandparents’ kennels. She provides unwanted and poorly cats with extra care and bottle feeds young kittens, going in most days after school to make sure they become used to people and can start to trust adults and children again.

Mallena’s devotion to the animals and work towards their welfare is valuable and vital in helping the cats and kittens find new homes.

William Wilberforce Award – a new award presented to those making exceptional contributions to animal welfare

Winner – Jill Robinson, Animals Asia

Jill spent 12 years working in Asia for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. She founded the ‘Dr Dog’ animal-therapy programme in Hong Kong in 1991, a project which has led to more than 250 dogs and their dedicated volunteers regularly visiting hospitals, disabled centres, schools and elderly homes in Asia to provide warmth and love to people in need whilst promoting companion animals as our friends and helpers.

In 1993, a chance visit to a bear farm in Southern China changed Jill’s life. She embarked on a journey to end the cruel practice of farming black (or moon) bears and milking their bile once and for all. 

In 1998, Jill founded Animals Asia and signed a breakthrough agreement with the Chinese authorities in 2000 to rescue 500 farmed bears and work towards promoting herbal alternatives to bile. Today, Animal Asia’s Moon Bear Rescue has seen the rescue of more than 356 bears in China and Vietnam and continues to spearhead far-reaching community, education and welfare programmes.

Jill is a Council Member of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies Herbal Committee and an Honorary Advisor to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong.

Regional Media Award

Winner – Burton Mail

The Mail, based in Burton-on-Trent, is being presented with the award for their consistent support of the RSPCA Burton-on-Trent Animal Centre which is run by the local branch. The newspaper launched a fundraising campaign in 2005 after a particularly horrific cruelty case where a dog died after being locked in a shed. The proceeds of the campaign went entirely to the animal centre.

RSPCA senior regional press officer Judith Haw said: “I think the Burton Mail is a clear illustration of how passionately the newspaper feels about animal welfare – I cannot think of a court case or RSPCA story they have not covered.”

The newspaper also runs a pet of the week feature which provides fantastic support and help in rehoming lots of unwanted animals.

National Media Award – for outstanding and sustained contribution in animal welfare

Winner – Martin Hickman, the Independent

In the past year, the consumer affairs correspondent for the Independent, has continued to report and comment on a wide variety of key animal welfare issues. In particular, he has followed the issue of food labelling, highlighting the RSPCA’s concern about Halal meat being sold without the proper labels, an issue which was subsequently taken up by other journalists.

Other issues which Martin has had featured include proposals to ban wild animals in circuses, CCTV in abattoirs, industrial-scale dairy farms, the RSPCA Good Business Awards and the new government’s position on animal welfare on which he has held them to account.

Martin regularly speaks to and works with key scientists and spokespeople within the RSPCA.

1st Elsie MJ Evans Bronze Award – for recognition of an act of kindness or bravery by an inspector, volunteer, employee or member of the public.

Winners – Emma Campbell and Martin Phillis

Emma and Martin saw Dino, a young dog, being chased down a street by his owner who then beat his pet until he squealed. Dino managed to escape and ran into a driveway where Martin picked him up to comfort and protect him. The owner, undeterred, snatched Dino from Martin’s arms and punched the terrified dog in the face three or four times. Emma then managed to take hold of Dino while Martin held onto his owner. 

Dino was safe and has since been rehomed. His owner received 18 weeks in prison and was banned from keeping animals for life after a prosecution by the RSPCA.

The RSPCA depends on the help of the public in rescuing animals from cruelty and mistreatment and Emma and Martin’s selfless actions undoubtedly saved Dino from a life of misery.

2nd Elsie MJ Evans Bronze Award – for commitment and kindness to animals by a voluntary worker.

Winner – Lyn Coombes, voluntary worker in Somerset

Lyn was nominated for the tireless work she has done in assisting the RSPCA, particularly at the West Hatch Wildlife Centre, and exotic animals in her care. She has given her time freely as an expert in joint RSPCA/police raids, assisting with her expert advice in reptile cases.

Lyn has also become involved with the RSPCA’s Pet Retreat initiative, fostering animals whose owners are victims of domestic abuse until their owners can find safe, secure accommodation.

Lord Erskine Silver Award – In recognition of the important contribution of a person or organisation not necessarily associated with the RSPCA.

1st Winner – Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan (EAST)

The RSPCA has worked with EAST since it was founded in 2000. Although it has a core staff of only five and about 30 volunteers, EAST has worked on hard-hitting and often dangerous investigations. It has also worked with the RSPCA to train inspectors in Taiwan. Among its achievements are investigations into inhumane slaughter, a ban on the slaughter of poultry at wet markets and national dog shelter surveys which pressed the government to address serious welfare issues with dog-catching and shelter conditions.

Lord Erskine Silver Award

2nd Winner – InterNICHE

InterNICHE promotes and supports progressive science teaching and the replacement of animal experiments by working with teachers to introduce alternatives. 

InterNICHE has extended its influence to South America, Africa and the Middle East, holding seminars and demonstrations on humane education in countries where the topic has not previously been on the agenda. The organisation’s conferences and symposia on humane education harness the enthusiasm of its local contacts, most of whom contribute on a voluntary basis. 

Special Investigation Award

Winner – Dr Danny Penman (please note that we cannot release photos of Dr Penman)

After achieving a PhD in biochemistry, Danny began his career as a journalist covering the civil war in former Yugoslavia. He later became a staff journalist on the Independent and is now a freelance writer, covering news, features and opinion pieces for the Daily Mail among several other national newspapers, specialising in science, health, animal rights, the environment and terrorism.

Danny’s articles on animal welfare are invariably based on extensive undercover work and two examples show his tenacity in getting stories which would not ordinarily be covered. He covered the Canadian seal hunt in 2006 and 2008, exposing the shocking cruelty involved and putting himself at risk. Recently, he went undercover in the Polish pig industry, reporting on conditions and welfare problems. He also traced the pork produced there to the UK, showing our standards were being undercut by imported pork.

Danny has also undertaken investigations on conditions in British circuses, the capture and shipment of monkeys from Asia to European laboratories and conditions in zoos in China. He has worked on many of the issues with the RSPCA and helped to improve the welfare of animals as a result.

RSPCA, Wilberforce Way, Southwater, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 9RS
Press office direct lines: 0300 123 0244/0288 Fax: 0303 123 0099
Duty press officer (evenings and weekends) Tel 08448 222888 and ask for pager number 828825
Email: press@rspca.org.uk Website: www.rspca.org.uk

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