Major award for Phuket's Soi Dog

PHUKET: Gill and John Dalley of the Soi Dog Foundation have received this year’s Jeanne Marchig Animal Welfare Award 2011, along with US$20,000 (B630,000) for the foundation.

Monday 23 January 2012, 10:10AM

Gill Dalley: ‘Extremely honoured to receive this award.’

The award, from grant-making charity the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust, recognises “outstanding services to animal welfare”.

Announcing the 2011 winners of the award that bears her name, the Founder and Chairman of the Trustees, Jeanne Marchig explained:

“As in previous years, the Trustees of the Marchig Animal Welfare Trust received a large number of nominations for the Award from all over the world. With so many worthy candidates, the decision was not easy.

“Nevertheless, in the end the trustees were unanimous that the Jeanne Marchig Animal Welfare Award 2011 should be made jointly to Gill and John Dalley of the Soi Dog Foundation in acknowledgment of their tireless work in protecting animals from abuse.

“Under their voluntary and tireless direction, the Soi Dog Foundation has become one of the most effective and compassionate animal welfare groups in the Asian region. Gill and John are on the front line of the fight to end animal suffering and abuse in Thailand and are worthy recipients of this Award.”

Receiving the award, Gill Dalley said: “John and I feel extremely honoured to receive this award, and on behalf of everyone at Soi Dog extend a huge thanks to the Marchig Trust for their awareness of the challenges faced in helping the neglected and abused cats and dogs of Thailand.

“The money from the award will be used in its entirety towards continuing Soi Dog’s mission in bettering the lives and living conditions of the stray cats and dogs of Thailand, and in fighting the insidious and illegal trafficking of dogs to Vietnam.”