Bob Barker to Receive Lord Houghton Award, 10/13

At a Hollywood Gala on October 13th, Bob Barker (philanthropist and Emmy-award winning host of the Price is Right) will be presented with the Lord Houghton Award for outstanding services to animal welfare by Animal Defenders International (ADI).

Only one Lord Houghton Award is given per year. The honor of nominating the recipient is shared between four of Europe’s largest animal protection groups, each group nominating in rotation. ADI therefore only presents this award once every four years.

The award is in recognition of Barker’s lifetime achievements for animals, his generosity, but most importantly his campaigning leadership – from ending every show with a plea for owners to neuter pets, to presenting evidence to Congress, Bob Barker is an articulate voice for animals in America.

Less known is that the impact of his philanthropy has stretched across the globe saving millions of animals worldwide. Barker enabled ADI’s Operation Lion Ark to empty a whole country, Bolivia, of its suffering circus animals and build those animals homes in the U.S. When Sea Shepherd goes head-to-head with whalers in the oceans, it is in a ship named the Bob Barker. When elephants head out into their enclosures at the PAWS ARK2000 Sanctuary, it is thanks to Bob Barker. And it is thanks to his endowment that students at the nation’s top law schools study animal rights law and protection issues.

This award is a significant acknowledgement of Barker’s tireless campaigning for animals, which for thirty years has seen him publicizing the plight of animals across America.

Jan Creamer, President and founder of ADI, said, “Bob Barker’s philanthropic contributions to animal protection have been vital to the success of Animal Defenders International and others like us. But, importantly, this award recognizes Mr. Barker as a leading and articulate voice for suffering animals in the world.”

“Last year, I sat alongside him at Congress as ADI launched HR 3359, the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, to end the use of wild animals in circuses. Members of Congress, their staff and hardened political correspondents were enthralled as Mr. Barker spoke with reason and passion. From calling for pets to be neutered at the end of The Price is Right, to backing measures to protect them, animals could not have a finer voice,” Creamer added.

The award will be presented at Lion Ark Night on October 13, a fundraising gala for ADI at a private home in the Hollywood Hills. Guests include Jorja Fox (CSI), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Corey Feldman (Lost Boys), Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars), Elisabetta Canalis (Dancing with the Stars), Kate Linder (The Young and Restless), Tonya Kay (Bold Native), James Reynolds (Days of our Lives) and Eric Roberts (Runaway Train, It’s My Party).

The evening will also include scenes from Lion Ark, a feature length action documentary currently in production about ADI’s operation that closed down Bolivia’s circus industry and saw 29 lions airlifted to safety in the U.S. Barker funded the remarkable operation and appears in the film.

With offices in Los Angeles, London and Bogota, ADI campaigns across the globe, providing technical advice to governments, securing progressive animal protection legislation, drafting regulations and rescuing animals in distress. ADI has a worldwide reputation for providing video and photographic evidence exposing the behind-the-scenes suffering in industry and supporting this evidence with scientific research on captive wildlife and transport. ADI rescues animals, educates the public on animals and environmental issues.

Created in honor of Lord Houghton of Sowerby (1898 – 1996), a member of the UK House of Lords who played a key role in British politics. A passionate animal welfare advocate, actively campaigning for changes in legislation for animal welfare. The first award was given in 1982 and recipients have included ordinary campaigners who have shown a quiet dedication to their voluntary work for animals, as well as ministers, legislators, scientists and international luminaries. Previous recipients have included Linda McCartney; Sheila and David Siddle who founded the world-renowned Chimfunshi Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Pat Derby and Ed Stewart who founded the equally prestigious Performing Animal Welfare Society’s ARK2000 sanctuary for elephants and other animals; and Vicki and Tony Moore for their work exposing cruel fiestas in Spain – Vicki eventually died from injuries she sustained after being gored by a bull whilst filming a bull running event.

For more about ADI, visit www.ad-international.org/adi_home.

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