TOLFA founder receives 2018’s RCVS International Award

Tree Of Life For Animals founder Rachel Wright has just been announced as one of the recipients for this year’s prestigious International Award from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The board “unanimously agreed” to award Rachel, who set up TOLFA, a veterinary hospital and animal shelter in Rajasthan, India twelve years ago.

“Our International Awards really demonstrate that our work as veterinary health professionals does not stop at the borders of the UK and that sharing knowledge, skills, time and effort with our international colleagues improves the health and welfare of animals across the world,” says RCVS President Stephen May. “The hospital that Rachel Wright founded works to eradicate rabies and educate the community on animal health and welfare while treating anything between 300 and 400 animals at any one time.”

“It came as a complete surprise to hear that I been selected to receive the RCVS International Award,” says Rachel Wright. “Living and working in the middle of the Rajasthan desert feels a million miles away from my days working as a veterinary nurse with pet animals in a UK veterinary hospital. To be honoured with an award from the body that governs the profession I hold so dear is truly humbling. I am thrilled and grateful to both the colleagues that nominated me and to the RCVS for appreciating my work in the field of international animal welfare.”

Since TOLFA started in 2005, it has:

• Treated more than 155,000 sick and injured animals
• Sterilized 21,377 animals and rabies-vaccinated 26,156 street dogs.
• TOLFA’s education projects have taught lessons to more than 5,600 children on dog-bites and rabies prevention and the importance of the animal Five Freedoms.

TOLFA is a hard-working and passionate charity dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable animals and people in Rajasthan. It is an instrumental force in shaping policy and changing public perception about the treatment of animals. Rachel will be presented with the award at the Annual General Meeting of the College on Friday, 13 July 2018 in London. For more details about the award, Rachel or TOLFA’s work, please contact: enquiries@tolfa.org.uk