PAW BVI founder gets British Empire Medal from the Queen
PAW (Promoting Animal Welfare) BVI founder, Natasha Ruscheinski, is the territory’s newest recipient of the British Empire Medal (BEM).
Ruscheinski made the Queen’s 2022 New Year’s Honours List for her contributions to animal welfare.
According to a New Year’s statement from the Deputy Governor’s Office, Ruscheinski saw a major need to provide free spaying and neutering to address the issue of the many homeless dogs and cats in the territory shortly after her arrival in the BVI in 2011.
PAW BVI was subsequently birthed by Ruscheinski in 2014 as a registered non-profit charitable organisation that is 100% reliant on fundraising.
The organisation also survives with the support of unpaid volunteers and the veterinarian team at Canines, Cats and Critters, where Ruscheinski created a spay and neuter programme to be offered free of charge for those unable to pay veterinary fees. The intention behind the programme was to reduce the number of unwanted litter being born.
To date, PAW BVI has sponsored and organised the spaying and neutering of more than 3,000 dogs and cats.
The release further noted that Ruscheinski also created relationships with a network of “no kill” animal rescues, primarily in the United States, and PAW has successfully sent 1,383 dogs and cats to these facilities through the “PAWS in the Air” programme.
The 2017 hurricanes and the global pandemic led to the abandonment of many dogs and cats in the territory and PAW BVI arranged rescue flights overseas to take many of these animals to a better life, including those that had been in the local shelter for extended periods (sometimes years).
Governor John Rankin said: “Natasha has worked relentlessly as a campaigner to improve animal welfare. Through PAW BVI, she has helped to save and improve the lives of thousands of animals, whether they are unwanted, abandoned, injured or victims of natural disaster. Despite testing times over the last seven years, she has continued to lead a team of volunteers and work with other organisations to help meet challenges faced by owners and animals alike. I offer my warm congratulations to her for receiving this award which rightfully recognises her achievements in the territory.”
Ruscheinski said that she is immensely proud of what PAW BVI has achieved, although there is still much work to be done.
Her Majesty the Queen’s New Year Honours are awarded to individuals in recognition of their outstanding achievements. British Empire Medals are awarded for a ‘hands-on’ service to the local community.
This could be a long-term charitable or voluntary activity, or innovative work of a relatively short duration (three to four years) that has made a significant difference.
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Congratulations Tash, you’re an incredible person and this is thoroughly deserved. The number of strays is vastly reduced thanks to your efforts, and the island is so much better for it. Thank you.
Truly deserving of this. Natasha is a great human being!
Amazing achievement and well deserved recognition. Congratulations Tash.
Many of these non profit organizations are run by expats. We are indebted to them.
And dont talk about that fact that the same PAW ignore locals when they inquire about adopting cats and dogs but some how they always seem to have available to expats.
Who cares a racist empire
You mean to tell me after all these years the only animal lover they found on island is a johnny come lately expat. Talk about a slap in the face.
Congratulations Natasha, i remember day after hurricane Irma, you went out to check on some animals that had been left tied up and they did not have a chance – never forget it – you deserve this, selfless dedicated heroine. xx