Zenopa | September 4, 2019
Medivet clients have made an incredible one million donations to raise £500,000 for the Medivet Saving The Rhino campaign with Wilderness Foundation Africa*, the Veterinary company has announced today.
Contributions made in the past four years by kind Medivet clients using Pennies** – the digital charity box within its practices – hit the remarkable £500,000 milestone this week. The millionth donation was made at Medivet 24 Hour Shrewsbury. Medivet clients are offered the opportunity to add 50 pence to their veterinary bill to support the campaign.
The funds raised have played a crucial role in helping to protect the rhino – enabling Wilderness Foundation Africa’s Forever Wild Rhino Protection Initiative to support these critically endangered species across a wide range of activities.
This includes the treatment of poaching attack survivors plus the care and rehabilitation of orphaned baby rhinos.
Original photo as published by Zenopa.com.
In terms of prevention, thanks to kind Medivet client donations, two cold scent tracker dogs have been deployed – Ella and Ziggy – who work with anti-poaching units, while support has also been provided for intelligence-sharing amongst local law-enforcement agencies.
Funds have additionally been deployed to help drive global awareness, provide community services as well as essential field-based veterinary equipment.
Medivet launched its Saving the Rhino campaign in 2015 in partnership with Wilderness Foundation Africa, which is part of a global alliance of charities that aims to protect and connect wilderness, wildlife and people.
Dr John Smithers, Senior Partner and Project Co-ordinator for Medivet Saving the Rhino, said: “We could not be more grateful to our clients for all they have done to help the survival of this iconic species. Their incredible generosity – combined with the support of our colleagues and partners – has made a real difference in the fight against poaching and we want to thank our clients for every donation made.”
In South Africa, the Medivet-supported efforts to reduce poaching are co-ordinated by Dr William Fowlds, a former Medivet employee, who added: “This is a truly remarkable milestone and we are overwhelmed by the kindness of Medivet and its clients. The money raised not only helps protect the rhinos but helps bring to justice those responsible for the destruction of these precious and innocent creatures.”
Alison Hutchinson, CBE, CEO of Pennies said reaching 1m donations was a remarkable achievement: “Pennies is proud to support Medivet’s Saving the Rhino campaign, and it’s been so inspiring to see one million individual micro-donations made through the digital charity box over the past four years.
“From all at Pennies, thank you and congratulations to the Medivet team and their hugely generous clients for reaching this milestone, for challenging the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa, and proving that small change truly does add up to mean big things.”
To find out more visit, Medivet.co.uk.
