Award for global animal welfare campaigner

The JA Wight Memorial Award, sponsored by The Blue Cross, has been awarded to Ray Butcher, a board member of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and former President of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) for his work improving standards of veterinary care across the globe.

Ray's work has helped to develop teaching resources aimed at supporting the introduction of veterinary facilities in the developing world and he was a founding member of the Alliance for Rabies Control - a group of experts committed to reducing the human death toll from rabies.

The award was presented by James Wight in memory of his father Alf Wight - veterinarian and author of the James Herriot novels - at the BSAVA congress in April. Blue Cross chief executive John Rutter, said: "Ray‘s work illustrates how animal welfare and human well-being are intrinsically linked. For over 100 years The Blue Cross has worked to highlight the benefits of companionship between pets and their people and we are proud to recognise his valuable contribution to promoting the human-animal bond."

On receiving the award, Ray said: "Receiving this award, dedicated as it is to animal welfare, is especially important for me. However, in accepting it, I would like to acknowledge the dedication and compassion of many colleagues throughout the world who work tirelessly in this field with few resources, with little reward and without recognition. They have all been an inspiration to me."

April 2007