SCAS Launches the Inaugural Bob Harvey Award to Honor Human-Animal Bond in Care Services

If Bob received’t half from his beloved canine Darcie, he faces eviction from his nursing dwelling SCAS launch the inaugural Bob Harvey Award

Two charities, the Society for Companion Animal Research (SCAS) and Fostering Compassion have launched a really particular new award; The Bob Harvey Award, in reminiscence of Bob and his beloved canine Darcie. The award will likely be introduced to a care dwelling, hospice, hospital or care facility that has gone above and past the decision of obligation to maintain human and animal collectively and guarded that every one vital bond.

The story of Bob and his little canine Darcie have to be one of many saddest. When Bob’s spouse Margaret developed dementia, they had been promised they may keep collectively in a care dwelling with their canine for the remainder of their days. Not lengthy after enduring the tough transition of transferring from their marital dwelling to the care dwelling, Bob’s spouse Margaret handed away. Bob was totally heartbroken with solely his beloved canine Darcie, his devoted companion and closing connection to the love of his life, by his aspect.

Following a change in administration, Bob was given the devastating information that Darcie was now not allowed to remain within the dwelling with him and that if he didn’t ‘get rid’ of him, they confronted eviction. He couldn’t bear to be parted from his devoted companion so, on the age of 87, he endured yet one more traumatic upheaval as he and his little canine moved out of the care dwelling and right into a modest bungalow within the North of England. Learn Bob’s full story right here.

What Bob endured ought to by no means have occurred. Nevertheless, he was lucky in having buddies to help him by way of this ordeal, who campaigned to stop his bond with Darcie being ruptured. Members of SCAS and Fostering Compassion had been amongst those that rallied to his help and with Bob’s blessing raised consciousness of the problem at nationwide and worldwide conferences, within the Scottish Parliament, at rallies, and thru the media. It is a very severe challenge. A survey by Anchor Housing Belief discovered that yearly some 140,000 pets owned by older individuals are surrendered after they transfer to supported dwelling.

Very sadly Bob died in October 2020, and little Darcie died simply 10 weeks later. In reminiscence of Bob, SCAS and Fostering Compassion have launched this very particular new award. The award will likely be introduced to a care dwelling, hospice, hospital or care facility that has completed above and past the decision of obligation to maintain human and animal collectively and shield that every one vital bond.

Nominations are welcomed from anybody who’s conscious of any facility worthy of consideration. The winner will likely be chosen by a panel of specialists and will likely be introduced on the annual SCAS convention on the seventeenth September, 2023.

SCAS is the UK’s main human-companion animal bond organisation by way of its analysis funding, offering schooling, elevating consciousness, encouraging greatest observe, and influencing the event of insurance policies and practices that help the human-companion animal bond. For extra particulars take a look at our web site at www.scas.org.uk Observe us on FB and Twitter (@SCASuk).

Fostering Compassion is a groundbreaking humane schooling mission, distinctive in its method to addressing the hyperlinks between animal abuse, little one abuse, elder abuse and interpersonal violence. By sharing the tales of rescued animals, we encourage caring, compassionate and nurturing behaviour in youngsters. For extra particulars take a look at our web site at Fostering Compassion