Hi, I’m Lisa. I’m a specialist veterinary dentist living in Byfleet, Surrey. I’m also a trustee and ardent supporter of the charity International Animal Rescue (IAR). Over the past ten years I’ve paid regular visits to IAR’s rescue centres in India and Indonesia to treat some of the animals there. Many of them have been horrifically abused – bears, orangutans and slow lorises all suffer terrible cruelty and abuse at the hands of human beings. Dancing bears have their teeth knocked out with iron bars to make them easier to control and slow lorises have their teeth clipped off by illegal traders before being sold as pets. Wild orangutans are often beaten by their captors when they are poached from the wild, leaving them with broken teeth and bones.

The stories of these animals are deeply upsetting but, thanks to my training as a dental vet, I’ve been able to relieve their suffering and completely transform their lives.

But recently I received some devastating news. I was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Already my condition is deteriorating and I’m no longer able to operate, only supervise the work of others.

Since I’m no longer able to assist International Animal Rescue in a ‘hands on’, practical way, I’m devoting my time to encouraging others to support this wonderful charity. I hope that people will feel moved to join me and support my campaign. Already, thanks to people’s generosity, I have exceeded my 100 x £100 target which is just incredible! But I hope people will keep on giving because the more money I can raise, the more animals we can save from suffering. So do please continue to support me by giving whatever you can and together we can make a huge difference to animals’ lives. Thank you!

Lisa x

http://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/trustees-and-patrons/lisa-milella