Shining World Compassion Award Recipient: Dr. Cliff Redford (vegetarian) – A Charismatic Loving Heart

Today, we travel to Canada to meet Dr. Cliff Redford, whose Wellington Veterinary Hospital has taken care of countless animals 7 days a week for more than 20 years. Since childhood Dr. Redford, wanted to be a veterinarian, and achieved his wish by graduating in 1998 at Ontario Veterinary College. He specializes in soft tissue surgery, complicated dental procedures, internal medicines and emergency care for all animals. Dr. Redford has worked with many animals, both domesticated and wild, such as eagles, hawks, monkeys, elephants, bats, owls, porcupines, skunks, raccoons and possums. He is also a big wildlife conservation advocate and is known to live by his motto, “Be kind to animals.”

Dr. Cliff’s adventures have also taken him to Jamaica, Greece and Egypt. He shared with us some of the interesting experiences he had with the animals in Jamaica and Greece. “In Jamaica, the most interesting thing was working with the giant funnel eared bats in the St Clair Caves. These bats are probably the size of a small mouse, very very small with giant, giant ears. And they were unfortunately dying off due to fungal infection called white-nose disease, a lung and sort of nostril infection. And we had to hike up the mountain, go down ropes into this cave, hike deep into the earth to find these things. The white-nose disease is a disease that’s affecting bats around the world. So they were able to use these bats in Jamaica as sort of samples to help them find the cures.”

Upon learning of Dr. Redford’s wonderful deeds, Supreme Master Ching Hai: “Thankfully present the Shining World Compassion Award to Dr. Cliff Redford, with gratitude, love and a humble contribution of US$15,000 to support this noble work.” “I also have this beautiful plaque from Supreme Master Ching Hai. It says, ‘Shining World Compassion Award from Supreme Master Ching Hai for Dr. Cliff Redford in recognition of great volunteering to provide medical care to cherish animals abroad, inspiring others to be kind and loving towards our co-inhabitants, defending and encouraging human justices and respect. With compliments and gratitude to your compassionate and benevolent commitments to save precious animal lives.’”