Jenny Stavisky, a senior lecturer in shelter medicine at the University of Nottingham, became Vet of the Year at this year’s Ceva Animal Welfare Awards.

In addition to her teaching and research, Jenny founded the charity Vets in the Community in 2012 to provide free veterinary care to the pets of the homeless and vulnerably housed people in Nottingham.  The charity is based in the Big Issue office in Nottingham City Centre.

Katrine Bazeley and Graham Duncanson (pictured) two retired veterinary surgeons who continue to make a big impact in animal welfare, shared the Farm Animal Welfare Award.

Katrine, from Dorset, held roles in veterinary practice and academia. She is still involved in youngstock research and maintains a clinical involvement with Synergy Farm Health.  She was also a committee member of the Goat Veterinary Society for many years, of which she is now an honorary life member.  Her achievements include significant welfare work in both cattle and small ruminants and she has written several books.

Graham, from Norfolk, worked at Westover Veterinary Centre 40 years.  He has just returned from a marathon two-year, 8,000km cycling challenge from Norfolk to Cape Town in South Africa to raise funds for the Animal Welfare Foundation (AWF) of which he is a trustee.

His route took him through Western Europe and into Greece. He then flew to Ethiopia and cycled through Kenya, where he spent eight years as a Government veterinary officer in his early career.  Graham finished his challenge by following the Indian Ocean down the African continent’s east coast to Cape Town.

He has written veterinary publications to highlight the importance of good husbandry to maintain the health and welfare of animals, including Veterinary Treatment of Llamas and Alpacas and Veterinary Treatment for Working Equines.

Samantha Shand from Quarrington Veterinary Surgery, Lincs, took the Welfare Nurse of the Year Award for her charity fund-raising and educational work.

Dean Bland from Well Equine in Yorkshire was named Volunteer of the Year for his work with equine welfare organisations.

Lesley Winton, founder of the Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears and Fostering Compassion, was named Charity Professional of the Year and the Dogstar Foundation, Sri Lanka, took the equivalent team award.

Pei Su, founder of ActAsia, won the Cat Welfare Award for educational work in a part of the world said to be not understood by many western welfare organisations.

Image: Suzy Deeley of R.A.B.I; Katrine Bazeley; Graham Duncanson; and chair of the judging panel, Chris Laurence.