Outstanding vet honoured with IFAW Action Award

“It is a privilege to present this award to Dr Allen to recognise her important achievement. Dr Allen’s selfless dedication to the treatment and care of animals is inspirational.  It is vital that people like Dr Allan are recognised as the real champions for animals,” Ms Young said.

Dr Allen worked as an Australian Volunteer International vet placed with Animal Protection Society (APS) in Samoa for two years where her work included the implementation of village-based dog health programs as well as working with the Samoan Government towards a Dog Control Management Plan. 

Dr Allen went on to work in the Northern Territory, where she worked in several Indigenous communities, including AMRRIC’s pilot dog program in the remote indigenous community of Kintore.

The program worked in partnership with community members to improve community health by improving the health of animals.  During three visits to Kintore over the past year, veterinarians and volunteers spay/neutered nearly 150 dogs and treated a number of conditions from roundworm, heartworm and other internal parasites to mange and ticks. As part of the program, IFAW supplied collars for all desexed dogs.

Dr Allen is one of six animal heroes across Australia to receive an IFAW accolade this year. Also being honoured today in a joint presentation on the south coast of NSW are wildlife carers Shirley Lack with the Lifetime Dedication Award and nine year old Shania Gardner with the Young Achievers Award. Marny Bonner and the late Lance Ferris, founders of Australian Seabird Rescue, were awarded the Action Award for Wildlife Rescue on 8 October for their tremendous work in rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of seabirds and marine wildlife. The other winners will be announced next week.

 “We hope that by highlighting some of these exceptional people more Australians will acknowledge and respect the important part that animals play in our global world,” said IFAW Asia Pacific Director Erica Martin.

“Raising awareness of important animal welfare issues is vital to understanding of the issues facing animals today, and we recognise this important work with this IFAW Action Award.

IFAW’s Animal Action Week is in its sixteenth year and takes place in 16 countries around the world.  More than 1000 schools in Australia will be taking part this year, using specially designed IFAW education materials. Visit www.animalactionweek.com.au for further information.

For media-related inquiries, contact:
Kerry Glenn, IFAW Asia Pacific Communications Officer
Tel: +61 9288 4993
Mobile: 0437 414 329
Email: kglenn@ifaw.org