As an animal charity, or more accurately and animal welfare organisation, success to us isn’t financial, it isn’t status, or figures. Simply put, success to us is every step we take towards our vision: to be the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Our vision is a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding.

These successes are only made possible through the combination of our supporters, our teams, and our dedication to helping animals across the globe. We are an animal charity that is working to be the animal charity reducing the suffering of animals across the world.

To celebrate what we’ve achieved as animal charity, and to help keep things recent, we’re going to give an overview of our 2019 and 2020. Despite the challenges that both of these years held, we were still able to progress as an animal charity and make a difference to animals all over the world. These successes are not only a celebration of the new lives that we are able to give these animals, it is also a celebration of our supporters.

Here are some of our animal charity successes in 2019:

47 Animals Rescued from Rafah Zoo

On 7th April 2019, a FOUR PAWS animal charity rescue team transferred 47 zoo animals out of the Gaza Strip. These animals comprised five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, porcupines, foxes, cats, dogs, emus, ostriches and squirrels. All of them were rescued from their suffering in a neglected zoo in Rafah in the south of Gaza.

8 big cats, 1 small cat, transferred to sanctuaries in Jordan, South Africa, Germany, and the Netherlands

Offering big cats a species appropriate life is part of our vision as an animal charity, as we understand that their beauty can often be their curse. Big cats often require complex enrichment and environmental needs, which we work very hard to meet at all of our big cat sanctuaries. Thanks to animal charity supporters, we were able to rescue a number of suffering big cats throughout 2019.

#RuthlessTourism Campaign

From festivals, to zoos, circuses or for selfies, across Europe animals are suffering for our entertainment. As an animal charity during 2019, you helped us to raise awareness for this campaign that is working to put a stop to the suffering that animals have to endure in the name of tourism. Many of these animals suffer behind closed doors, out of the eye of the public.

The Rescue of 38 bears

We have a number of bear sanctuaries across the world that enable us, as an animal charity, to offer abused and exploited bears a second chance at happiness and a species-appropriate life. Thanks to our supporters, we were able to rescue 38 bears across 2019. This means that they no longer have to endure the suffering that has characterised their lives.

250 Sheep from Capsized Ship, Romania

In 2019, our team worked together with emergency trained special forces of the ISU, the Romanian Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, during an emergency mission to save 14,000 sheep that were trapped in a capsized ship off the coast of Romania. Unfortunately, many died, but, thanks to our supporters, not all of them were lost.

You can see our year in review video, below:

Here are some of our animal charity successes during the very challenging 2020:

One Million Signatures to end DCMT

The cruelty of the dog and cat meat trade is something that has proven to hit home with many of us. So much so, that one million of you came forward to sign a petition against it. As an animal charity, this is an amazing resource for us, allowing us to not only raise awareness of the campaign, but also to use as part of our process to shutting the trade for good.

500 Animals Treated on Koh Dach, Cambodia

As an animal charity, another key part of our work is our work in stray animal care. Our teams worked hard on the ground this year, despite all of the challenges and hurdles that the Coronavirus pandemic created, allowing us to treat 500 stray animals that were suffering on the streets of Koh Dach in Cambodia. Thanks to our supporters, we can operate as an animal charity across borders and beyond.

#FreeKaavan

2020 also saw us carry out our heaviest, biggest, and most challenging rescue to date. #FreeKaavan saw the world come together to help save the ‘World’s Loneliest Elephant’ from his zoo enclosure in Pakistan. Global superstar Cher was so moved by his story that she involved herself directly to see him rescued. As an animal charity, this was an amazing achievement for us to see Kaavan saved from this living hell and transferred to a beautiful Cambodian sanctuary paradise where he was introduced to his kind once more.

You can see our 2020 review video, below:

We always to celebrate our successes as an animal charity, not only because we’ve been able to reduce the suffering of animals across the world. It’s also because we want to show our supporters the difference they can make. Whether it’s using their voice, their donation, or simply their time to help spread awareness, it all adds up to big things.

If you’re interested in donating to an animal charity, such as FOUR PAWS, you can do so through our donation form. This is a quick, easy, and simple way for you to donate on a one-time or monthly basis. Whichever suits you best, and whatever you can give, it all helps.

Alternatively, you can get in touch with us via our online contact form, or by giving us a call on 020 7922 7954. A member of our supporter care team will be more than happy to discuss your donation options with you.