This year has tested people everywhere in immense and unexpected ways and as with so many things in recent times, I couldn’t have predicted the contents of this message even a few weeks ago.

In discussions with the wonderful IAPWA team I’ve been heartbroken to learn of recent events at their facility in Borneo - an island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago. Devastating flooding (the worst seen in the area for 30 years) has compounded the already painful impact of COVID-19 causing a reduced flow of funding. Since 2009, IAPWA have worked in Borneo to provide safety, health treatment and hope to stray cats and dogs which may otherwise suffer terribly. With the support of compassionate people like yourself, IAPWA has ended inhumane methods of population control, saving thousands of lives as well as supporting other local sanctuaries and bolstering penalties for cruelty. 

The facility has been central in efforts to create a future of massively improved animal welfare standards and crucial in brightening and saving countless lives. If we want to see this continue and, hopefully, extend the reach of the beautifully dedicated people on the ground in Borneo  - they need our support now.

This Christmas, my hope is that we can raise enough funding to build 20 new kennels in Borneo. This would cost around £2,000 and would make a genuinely lasting improvement in the facility’s capacity to transform lives. 

I’ve been a campaigner for around seven years now and have learnt the importance of doing whatever you can when you feel moved to act. Tapping into the inspiration of past efforts and campaigns, however, the potential to take the difficulties in Borneo as an impetus to spark even more support and awareness feels incredibly promising. 

Above all, we must never allow the suffering and struggle faced by animals to slip beneath our collective gaze. We can and must speak up for these creatures, especially in such moments of intense vulnerability. 

Thank you all and my very best wishes,

Lucy xx