Pollyanna honoured by International Fund for Animal Welfare

Pollyanna attended the House of Lords in July to collect a top International Award for her conservation work.

Animal charity IFAW named Pollyanna as their 'Animal Conservation Fund-raiser of the Year 2005' in recognition of her tireless work through the Pollyanna Pickering Foundation to both conserve endangered species and help injured wildlife within the UK. Just nine awards are given annually by the society, to honour the world's most caring animal lovers. A special bravery award was also this year presented to the remarkable sniffer dogs and their handlers from the Metropolitan Police bomb disposal unit, who were the first on the scene at the sites of the recent terrorist attacks in London.

The Pollyanna Pickering Foundation was formally established in 2001 to continue Pollyanna's commitment to working for the welfare of wildlife. Since then tens of thousands of pounds have been raised through a percentage of sales at Pollyanna's exhibitions, her fees for public speaking engagements, prize draws to win original paintings, and donations. The Foundation has bought equipment for wildlife hospitals and sanctuaries throughout the UK, including building tunnels to help rehabilitate orphaned badgers, and incubators for a hedgehog hospital. International projects have including helping to build a safe haven for Rhino's in Aberdare, providing vaccines and equipment to Inoculate Ethiopia's wolf population against rabies, and providing anti-poaching equipment for Project Tiger rangers

Pollyanna and the other award winners were presented with beautiful crystal trophies by Baroness Gale in a special and moving ceremony at the House of Lords. The Baroness commented 'the winners are an inspiration to us all'. Pictured above from left to right are the UK President of IFAW, Baroness Gale, Pollyanna with her trophy, and patron of IFAW, model and singer Lisa B.