A big, global non-profit called the International Fund for Animal Welfare, or IFAW, notified us a few weeks ago that we were one of the winners of their 2007 Animal Action Awards. The notification letter from IFAW's president, Frederick O'Regan, said, "Congratulations on being selected to join an elite group of animal heroes worldwide who will receive a 2007 IFAW Animal Action Award. This international award recognizes your work to provide safe haven for disabled animals at the Rolling Dog Ranch Animal Sanctuary."
Mr. Regan's letter continued, "For the past 15 years, IFAW Animal Action Awards have honored extraordinary efforts to protect wild and domestic animals and their habitats, including such distinguished international recipients as Jane Goodall and Farley Mowat."
They aren't publicly announcing this until they hold an awards ceremony in Santa Monica, California, in early October, but the wheels are already in motion for the publicity. They had a camera crew out here today to tape a piece on the sanctuary, which they will show at the October event. They will also air an Animal Action Awards special program about us and the other recipients that same week on the TV program Animal Rescue, which IFAW sponsors. (We don't know who the other recipients are.)
Although we don't like to be called "heroes" and frankly, it makes us uncomfortable -- as Alayne told the camera crew today, it's our animals who are the real heroes for overcoming their disabilities, certainly not us -- this kind of recognition is a powerful tool in spreading the word about disabled animals. A lot more people will learn about the wonderful quality of life these animals can have if they're only given a chance.
So I got this photo of Alayne talking on camera this morning about Baron, the little blind-and-deaf guy who arrived a few weeks ago. The crew, who had flown in from L.A. last night, seemed genuinely taken with our disabled gang and were very happy with the video they got. The Dachshunds, Daisy on the left and Bailey on the right, were a bit nonchalant about the whole thing by this point, because they had already had their moment on camera!
(Click on photo for larger image.)
very well deserved!!! but it is nice to see that the minions are still sticking together :)
Posted by: Nicci | August 09, 2007 at 10:31 PM
Alayne and Steve,
Congratulations!! There is no one more deserving!! You are an inspiration to animal lovers everywhere. Continued blessings to you in your remarkable mission to give a wonderful life( with lots of love and belly rubs!) to the disabled animals that had no hope before you welcomed them home to RDR. Your the best!!
Posted by: Beverly | August 09, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Congratulations! That is a truly well-deserved recognition for you and your animals. Be sure to let us know when the TV programs will be on so we can watch.
Posted by: Maureen M., Sarasota, FL | August 08, 2007 at 05:33 PM
Wow and double wow guys! Congratulations! I can think of no others more deserving. This means you can get your message out and more donations in. And that leads to continued care for the ones already there and those yet to come. You're heroes in our eyes. Blessings to you all!
Posted by: Miranda | August 08, 2007 at 04:09 PM
Alayne & Steve,
Congratulations on the much deserved recognition. I agree that your "kids" are definitely the heroes. You can say that the two of you aren't heroes because in reality you are nothing short of angels on earth. Blessings to all of you, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | August 08, 2007 at 02:14 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! You are most deserving of the IFAW award . If it were not for you and the other"angels in disguise" where would these "darlings " ,large and small, be? I suspect there will be more and more awards coming your way in future!!! It takes a very special person to devote their lives to the work you do . Congratulations again and i will take liberty and humbly speak for the RDR "fan club members" and say we are SO proud of you both!!! YOU ARE EXTRAORIDNARY !!!
Posted by: Judy and Joe Taylor | August 08, 2007 at 12:56 PM
Congratulations! And you both ARE heroes. You know it too, but you also know how fun it is to do what you do!! You probably would prefer to be OUT of the spotlight, but it does help in awareness of what can and should be done...
Enjoy the rest of the summer!
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | August 08, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Congratulations on your award and some very well deserved recognition for your accomplishments. I agree with you that the animals are true heroes as well, overcoming what they do, but it is the both of you who give them the opportunity and ability to live the wonderful lives they have now. I'm sure if the animals could speak they'd tell you that it was worth what they've had to go through to end up where they are today with you guys on the ranch.
Posted by: trace | August 08, 2007 at 11:31 AM
Congratulations! You deserve it. You are taking the spirit of an animal sanctuary to an extraordinary level by taking in disabled animals and showing the world that disabilities often aren't.
Posted by: Janet | August 08, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Congratulations! This is a very much deserved award! Keep up the good work and writing your blog...I read it every morning to start the day on a good inspirational note.
Posted by: Caroline | August 08, 2007 at 09:53 AM
Congratulations to Rolling Dog Ranch!That is so great!
Posted by: Mary Young | August 08, 2007 at 09:46 AM
How Wonderful! Congratulations to you and the animals!
I'm sure this recognition with save many disabled animal lives. Amazing things happen to amazing people and animals and RDR fits right in there.
Once you find out when the awards show is, please post it. I'm less than 100 miles away and would love to see this if it's an open event.
Posted by: Boundforglory | August 08, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Congratulations! I'm so happy to hear you've been awarded this; I always think that "surprise awards" are the best.
Posted by: danielle | August 08, 2007 at 09:15 AM
This is wonderful and truly well deserved! Good for you and, as ever, it is the animals who win! I hope this brings more recognition and, in turn, more big donors! You guys are so AMAZING!
Posted by: Kari | August 08, 2007 at 07:41 AM
That's fantastic! Congrats to you, and yes you are very deserving, & all of the great animals at RDR! I'm so pleased for all of you & that's a very great way of getting publicity as well!
Big hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias, & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | August 08, 2007 at 05:20 AM
P.S.
Baron is so cute--I can't wait to met him next year when we come to volunteer!!!
Posted by: Shirley & James | August 08, 2007 at 01:46 AM
IFAW is a marvelous organization and they proved it once again by awarding RDR. I love all the publicity the Ranch has been given this year! It will help spread the word on disabled animals and help RDR continue their mission. It's all so amazing!!
Posted by: Shirley & James | August 08, 2007 at 01:45 AM
Congratulations to the both of you and your family of sweet animals. I am an active member of IFAW, who as you know, also does miraculously, wonderful things for animals all over the world. To be recognized by IFAW is indeed a prestigious accomplishment, but most importantly will hopefully provide a lot of publicity resulting in more supporters! Congrats again!
Posted by: Cora | August 07, 2007 at 11:40 PM
Congratulations, On your Most Deserved Award! I believe in Karma and it's giving you a Beautiful Spotlight!
Posted by: Lahna Zandi, Coral Springs, FL. | August 07, 2007 at 10:39 PM