Naturewatch Foundation Announces Winners of 2024 World Animal Day Grant
Gloucestershire, United Kingdom — On Monday, 2 September 2024, Naturewatch Foundation revealed the recipients of its highly competitive 2024 World Animal Day Grant. After receiving numerous applications, the organisation selected Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary in Barbados and the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation for their critical work in animal welfare.
CEO of Naturewatch Foundation, Sarah Carr, announced the winners and stated, “Our 2024 grant winners are both highly deserving of this year’s grant, striving to create positive change for animals in difficult circumstances.”
The majority of the grant, £8,718, was awarded to Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary located in St. John, Barbados. The organisation focuses on rescuing and rehoming abused and abandoned animals, as well as addressing the root causes of neglect in the community. The grant will be used to support their initiatives, including monthly spay and neuter sessions to reduce the stray animal population, providing care for injured and neglected animals until they are ready for adoption, and conducting workshops and educational sessions to promote responsible animal care.
Karen Whittaker, founder of Ocean Acres and World Animal Day ambassador, expressed her gratitude for the grant and said, “We feel incredibly honoured and excited to be chosen for the Naturewatch Foundation, World Animal Day grant. Our ongoing mission is to enhance the well-being of abandoned, neglected, and stray dogs and cats in Barbados. Receiving recognition from the World Animal Day HQ is truly heartening, and this grant will greatly bolster our initiatives to create a positive impact on the community.”
In addition to the main grant, a mini-grant of £1,500 was awarded to the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation. This project focuses on providing essential vaccinations and education efforts amid the ongoing civil war, which has left many animals vulnerable. The project aims to vaccinate donkeys, horses, and dogs displaced by the conflict and empower animal carers with knowledge to improve care practices.
Mustafa Bakrawi, the World Animal Day ambassador in Sudan, highlighted the worsening conditions for animals due to the conflict and expressed the importance of this project in alleviating their suffering and improving their welfare.
Naturewatch Foundation, a UK-based charity and the World Animal Day coordinators, expressed their gratitude to their supporters for making the grant possible. Sarah Carr added, “The difficult decision to pick just a couple of winners reflects the strength of the applications received and the need for financial support for animals globally. We are very grateful to be able to offer the World Animal Day grant to bolster important work and to our supporters who make this possible.”
The 2024 World Animal Day Grant is a testament to the dedication and hard work of organisations like Ocean Acres Animal Sanctuary and the Sudanese Animal Care and Environmental Protection Organisation, who strive to make a positive impact on the lives of animals.
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