Page 39 - link magazine

www.swindonlink.com - 10 years 39
China wall walkers inspired to work harder for bear rescue centre

A Swindon couple have had a unique opportunity to see how a British woman in China is working with local animal lovers to stop the bar-
baric torture of Moon bears.
Sarah and Dave Chilvers, from alternatives. As a result there is a with Chinese Government,
Peatmoor, below, were featured in surplus and it is added to cosmetic approval, to close down bear
the September Link before making products like shampoo. farms and educate people
a 10 day trek along the Great British animal lover Jill about the cruelty to animals in
Wall of China, to raise money Robinson began the foundation in their country.
for the Animals Asia Foundation 1998 after a heartbreaking trip to a Sarah and David were two
which campaigns to eradicate the bear farm. She leads the campaign, of the very few westerners
trade in bear bile in allowed to visit and be
China. Over 13,000 personally shown round the
endangered Moon Chengdu bear sanctuary by
bears are being kept Jill Robinson who lives there.
in inhumanely small They returned inspired
cages and milked to work harder for Animals
for their bile in Asia. “Jill is the most amazing
excruciatingly painful person; her dedication to
and gruesome ways. animals without a voice is
The bile is un- incredible,” said Dave. “The
care the bears receive in the
necessarily used in care the bears receive in the Lighting up lives
medical preparations sanctuary is wonderful, but it was
sanctuary is wonderful, but it was
awful to hear of the conditions on
as there are effective awful to hear of the conditions on Volunteers from a Swindon char-Volunteers from a Swindon char-
herbal or synthetic the farms and the way they are ity will be travelling to the Phil-
the farms and the way they are ity will be travelling to the Phil-
tortur
tortured to extract bile.”ed to extract bile.” ippines in November to install
ippines in November to install
tortured to extract bile.”
Dave and Sarah are hoping Jill solar powered lighting in a remote
Dave and Sarah are hoping Jill solar powered lighting in a remote
Link helps solve a fi shy problem shy problem
Link helps solve a fi can
can visit Swindon next year to talk visit Swindon next year to talk boarding school for deaf mute chil-
can visit Swindon next year to talk boarding school for deaf mute chil-
about the foundation’s work.
about the foundation’s work. dren rescued from city slums.
dren rescued from city slums.
An appeal in September’s Link for Koi carp to brighten up the pond for Koi carp to brighten up the pond
In mid-October Jill and the
at George Tweed Gardens brought numerous kind offers from our In mid-October Jill and the Over 100 rooms will be fi tted
at George Tweed Gardens brought numerous kind offers from our
received with a system invented by Roger
Sanctuary
Sanctuary
r
Chengdu
Chengdu
readers. Chengdu Sanctuary received eceived with a system invented by Roger
heavy media coverage with Mugridge from Cricklade who runs
heavy
heavy media coverage with media coverage with Mugridge from Cricklade who runs
Gill Sarjent, head of maths at can’t sell them to pet shops. I picked can’t sell them to pet shops. I picked
and a TV Lights for Learning. The charity has
features in the
Greendown School, had asked six of the healthiest looking ones features in the Daily Mail and a TV Lights for Learning. The charity has
six of the healthiest looking ones
documentary on Animal Planet on Animal Planet raised £18,000 for the project.
documentary
documentary on Animal Planet raised £18,000 for the project.
for our help after people living and made sure there was a good narrated by Stephen Fry. Whilst there Roger and his team
and made sure there was a good
narrated by Stephen Fry.
variety. Hopefully the residents will
at the sheltered housing scheme variety. Hopefully the residents will •
• See a video clip of the bear sanc-See a video clip of the bear sanc- will meet government ministers
• See a video clip of the bear sanc- will meet government ministers
mentioned they need some colour- be able to see them better than the tuary at www.swindonlink.com about future installations.
be able to see them better than the
tuary at www.swindonlink.com
about future installations.
ful fi sh in the pond outside their ghost koi they already had.” www.animalsasia.org www.lightsforlearning.org
Br
Br
common room. Brenda Poat, resident warden at
Brenda Poat, resident warden at enda Poat, resident warden at enda Poat, resident warden at
Geor
Geor
George Tweed, did not know the ge Tweed, did not know the ge Tweed, did not know the
The school has been building George Tweed, did not know the
links with the scheme and is in- appeal was going in The Link. “I
stalling a computer there. Regular was taken aback when one of the “Making life better
reader Pat Wintle from Rodbourne residents pointed it out, but I was so
Cheney was only too pleased to pleased when Pat called me. Koi are for you and
help. “Our fi sh have been breeding expensive to buy so it was very kind
your pet” pet”
and we had too many for the size of of Pat and her husband Richard to your
the pond. We’ve been looking for give us some. They look lovely and Care - always
something to do with them as you bright in our pond.”
Compassion - for
And they’re going to grow to this big! Pat Wintle introducing the koi to Shaw, front
left, with residents Marlene Matthews, Ruby Watts, Christine Redman, Brenda Poatt you and your pet
and pupils Jamie Clark, Naomi Coombs, James Pringle, Hayley Jefferies
Communication - we listen
Continuity - of care
throughout your pet’s life
Cost - good value, great offers
Convenience - a clinic near you
Car parking - plenty!
Car parking
Thameswood
Thameswood Veterinary ClinicVeterinary Clinic
An invitation
62 - 64 Purton Road to our
Swindon SN2 2LZ
Swindon SN2 2LZ
Swindon SN2 2LZ
(end of
(end of Akers Way)Akers Way)Akers Way)
(end of Veterinary
T T
Tel: 01793 526780el: 01793 526780el: 01793 526780 Nurse Careers
Open Evening
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am - 6.30pm
Open: Monday to Friday, 9am - 6.30pm
Saturday 9am - 11am1am Call reception
Saturday 9am - 1
Saturday 9am - 11am
for details
24 Hour Emergency Service. Tel: 01793 526780
www.thameswoodvets.co.uk
21-52 Nov 07.indd 39 18/10/07 17:15:53