Nicky Stevens with one of the stray dogs that her charity has saved
Nicky Stevens, from Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, first visited Borneo in 2009. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is known for its beautiful, yet endangered orangutans and pygmy elephants. It is also home to thousands of equally beautiful stray dogs and cats that struggle for survival on a daily basis.
Although Nicky quickly fell in love with Borneo, she was saddened to see so many animals suffering as a result of cruelty and neglect and these haunting images stayed with her. Upon her return to the UK, she made a commitment to do everything that she could to help create a better future for the animals whose lives were filled with so much sadness.
In August 2010, the IAPWA was subsequently formed and registered with the Charity Commission.
During the following three years, Nicky regularly visited Borneo to attend meetings with the local government in the hope of finding a mutually acceptable way to help protect and care for its street animals. Eventually her efforts paid off. In July 2014, IAPWA was awarded management of the local dog pound in the city of Kota Kinabalu and its first project, ‘Change for a pound’, was launched. This project enabled the local team to change from the previously used methods of dog population control to a more humane solution, whilst also providing much needed veterinary care, and marked the start of a very exciting journey in the improvement of animal welfare within the country.
IAPWA has since gone from strength to strength and, thanks to its supporters, has been able to provide veterinary care to hundreds of stray dogs that would have otherwise suffered in silence. In recognition of its work to date, IAPWA has been nominated as one of three finalists in the ‘Charity Team of the Year’ category at the forthcoming CEVA Awards for Animal Welfare 2015.
“In many countries around the world, inhumane methods of dog population control are often practiced,” said Nicky Stevens, Founder and Chief Executive, IAPWA. “In addition to the obvious suffering that this causes the animals, these methods rarely address the underlying problems regarding strays. At IAPWA we focus on providing long-term solutions that make a difference and change the lives of animals in need.
“As well as managing the dog pound in Kota Kinabalu, where we provide much needed veterinary care and rehoming services to dogs unable to cope on the streets, we also engage with and educate the local community about responsible pet ownership.”
IAPWA is now at the stage where it desperately needs to expand the size of its facility in Kota Kinabalu so that it can regularly treat a greater number of street animals that require immediate veterinary care. To do this, the organisation urgently needs to raise GBP £10,000 to fund the programme of works.
“When a much loved family dog or cat becomes ill or is involved in an accident it’s a pet owners’ worst nightmare and they will do all that they can to ensure that their animal receives the best veterinary care that they can afford,” said Karen Churches Peacock, Director of Fundraising, IAPWA.
“The stray dogs and cats of Borneo are not so fortunate – without loving owners, there is no-one to take care of their day-to-day welfare. This is where IAPWA steps in and you can help.
“As IAPWA receives no government funding, we rely entirely on the generosity of the animal lovers that support us. Please help us help more stray animals by making a donation to IAPWA today so that we can increase the size of the dog pound in Kota Kinabalu, expand our work in Borneo and improve the lives of many more street animals: GBP £25 will pay for five puppies to be vaccinated to protect them against preventable diseases; GBP £10 will pay for the neutering operation of one dog and prevent many puppies being born to a life on the streets; and GBP £5 will pay for the food for a stray dog whilst it is in our care.”
To make a donation online, please follow the ‘donate’ link at www.iapwa.org. To make a donation by text*, simply text IAPW01 £10 to 70070 to donate GBP £10, or text IAPW01 £5 to 70070 to donate GBP £5. To make a donation by cheque, please make your cheque payable to IAPWA and send it to IAPWA, 1B Rudds Lane, Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8JP, UK.
*This option is only available to IAPWA supporters based in the UK. There is no cost for sending the text and the donor’s free allowance/bundle will not be affected – the only charge will be the donation itself which will be added to their mobile phone bill or deducted from their pay as you go credit. IAPWA will receive 100% of the donation, including Gift Aid.