In the swinging 60s she was one of Britain’s top models, with her face gracing the covers of numerous editions of Vogue magazine. Today Celia Hammond is a role model, showing the world that compassion is always in fashion.
Finding a cat boarded up in an abandoned building with three kittens who had perished proved to be a catalyst for change in Hammond’s life. Trying to strike a balance between striking poses in haute couture and striking out on her mission of mercy, eventually Hammond turned away from the camera in order to focus all her attention on animal welfare.
Over the years the former model has used her days in the spotlight to help shine a light on a number of animal welfare issues, such as the inhumanity of the fur trade (with her stand on the issue immortalized in the song “Celia of the Seals” by Donovan), vivisection, factory farming and the needs of homeless companion animals.
After funding her own rescue efforts for several years, in 1986 the Celia Hammond Animal Trust was established. The registered UK charity (which helped to save the lives of 187 feral cats and kittens who were losing the only shelter they had known due to construction prior to the 2012 London Olympic Games) routinely:
- provides low cost neuter/vaccination clinics for the pets of families facing financial distress
- provides low cost treatment for ill and injured pets of those unable to afford veterinary care,
- investigates reports of cruelty or neglect
- offers comfort and care for homeless cats as they wait to be adopted
Wetnose Animal Aid recently paid a visit to the Celia Hammond Clinic in the London borough of Lewisham to show the ongoing work of the charity and educate the public about the upcoming Wetnose Day. Taking place on September 30, 2016, the annual fundraiser helps small, financially struggling animal rescue centers purchase vital equipment, pay off veterinary bills and provide food for the animals in their care.
For more information regarding the fundraiser, including how to hold your own Wetnose Day event, make a donation online and (if you are in the UK) buy a black foam nose to show your support for the paws cause, visit www.wetnoseanimalaid.com.
The various branches of The Celia Hammond Animal Trust are located at:
233-235 Lewisham Way
Lewisham, London
151 153 Barking Road
Canning Town, London
Greenacres Rehoming Centre and Sanctuary
Stubb Lane, Brede
Near Hastings
East Sussex
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