Station Road, Beckford, Nr Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, GL20 7AN Tel: 01386 882288 Email: info@valewildlife.org.uk Registered Charity No: 702888

INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE

IFAW Press release, for immediate release

Lifelong animal champion from Gloucestershire honoured for tireless work rescuing wildlife

(London – October 14, 2010) – A dedicated animal hero is to receive a special award in recognition of
more than 26 years of tireless work from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (www.ifaw.org)
at the House of Lords.
Caroline Gould (52) from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, is founder and manager of Vale Wildlife
Rescue Centre in Tewkesbury which treats up to 5,000 wildlife casualties each year from birds
to foxes, badgers and hedgehogs.

Available 24 hours a day to give help and advice to the public on sick, injured or orphaned British
wildlife, Caroline also has to find more than £20,000 per month to keep her centre running which is
a constant challenge.

To see IFAW's press release about the awards ceremony,

click here.

Begun in 1984 in her family home (right) when a local vet asked Caroline to look after an injured owl, she realised

the huge need for people to care for wild birds and
animals needing help.
As the number of wildlife casualties arriving for treatment grew, Caroline set up a hospital in a temporary
building then in 1990 opened a  purpose-built hospital
that employs 12 people and provides veterinary and
intensive care facilities.

Robbie Marsland, UK Director of IFAW, said: “We are very pleased to be able to reward Caroline’s amazing dedication to helping British wildlife over so many years and wanted to recognise her outstanding
contribution to animal welfare with our Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Caroline will receive her award at IFAW’s prestigious Animal Action Awards ceremony, hosted by
Baroness Gale, at the House of Lords on October 19. She was nominated by TV vet Emma Milne,
who used to treat some of the animals at Vale.

Having given up her own house to help meet the costs of

her hospital, Caroline has seen it grow to become one of
the largest and most well-known wildlife hospitals in the country.
She is now trying to raise money for a training and
education centre as she receives requests from all over
the world from students wishing to learn more from
working with her.

She said: “I was really shocked and excited to find out
about the award. It is a huge honour and really an award
for the many people who help or work at Vale; so I will be receiving this award on behalf of lots of people.”

For more information, photos or to arrange interviews please contact Clare Sterling in the IFAW UK Press Office on
+44 (0)20 7587 6708, mobile +44 (0)7917 507717, email csterling@ifaw.org or alternatively visit www.ifaw.org
Stock photos of award winners are available in advance and photos from the ceremony will be available shortly after.
Notes to Editors:
Animal Action Awards, sponsored by Nat Geo Wild and the People newspaper, are part of IFAW’s annual Animal Action
Week which takes place around the world involving thousands of schoolchildren who are motivated to get involved
in animal welfare. This year’s theme is tiger conservation.
If you would like to nominate someone for an Animal Action Award for 2011 please write to:
IFAW Animal Action Week, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7UD.
About the International Fund for Animal Welfare - With offices in 15 countries, IFAW saves animals in crisis around
the world. IFAW rescues and provides veterinary care to individual animals and advocates for the protection of entire populations. For more information visit www.ifaw.org.