Page 20 - Animals Asia Review 2017

Cat and Dog Welfare

happy 25th birthday Dr Dog!

our loveable therapy dogs are celebrating 25 years of tail-wagging visits to people most in need of kindness. This soul-
lifting work has touched the lives of so many people only because of your loyal and generous support.

Thank you for every friendly paw offered to a sick and frightened child... for every earnest brown-eyed look that tells a lonely senior
she is loved... and for the smile on the face of an orphaned child who’s touched a dog for the very irst time.

1991
2004
2006

A paraplegic boy’s face lights up Professor Paws launches in hong Animals Asia’s irst China Companion

as two big paws are placed on his kong. Our therapy dogs become Animal Symposium. Every two to three
hospital bed – and Dr Dog is born. teachers, encouraging schoolkids to years, the gathering brings together
It’s taken Jill Robinson many weeks love and respect animals. Their furry oficials and NGOs from around the
to ind a hospital willing to allow a professors are the irst dogs many country to look at ways to improve cat

“dirty dog” on the premises. Finally Hong Kong children touch. Our own and dog welfare, particularly for the
one allows Max, Jill’s gentle golden board member Anneleise Smillie animals living in misery on the streets, or
retriever, to visit for one hour outside started this inspiring programme when worse, targeted for the meat trade.

in the garden. Dr Dog is Asia’s irst she was our Education Director.
animal-assisted therapy programme.

1998
Dr Dog launches in Chengdu – and 2007
mainland China’s irst therapy dogs
Jill founds Animals Asia with a Animals Asia starts working with
mission to end bear bile farming
become instant media darlings!
many cities around China to
and dog and cat eating. Our Dr
Later expanding to Guangzhou and bring about real change for dogs
Shenzhen, Dr Dog is hugely popular
Dogs become ambassadors for our making a big impact in the community, and cats. We provide oficials with
campaigns to help companion animals.
advice on all aspects of dog and cat
by changing long-held attitudes to population and disease management.
dogs and animals generally.

2001
2005
Dr Dog launches in Malaysia with

Jill rescues Eddie from a meat Rescued meat dog Eddie stars in Dr Gideon one of the irst dogs to
market in southern China. This his own short ilm, Dr Eddie:
share his healing brand of love in the
country. Similar Dr Dog programmes
scruffy little dog becomes a Dr Dog Friend or Food, which uses Eddie’s
and an instant favourite of Hong Kong experiences to show why dogs should in Japan, the Philippines, India and
children after “doing his business”
be on our laps, not our dinner plates. Taiwan are launched independently by
local NGOs after training and advice
on stage at a school assembly. Eddie Chinese singer and ilm star Richie Jen from Animals Asia.
may not have been our best behaved narrates Dr Eddie’s voice. The ilm
Dr Dog, but he was one of our most was distributed far and wide

loved. His visits brought smiles and throughout China.
laughter to those who needed it most.

20 Animals Asia Review 2016