Lizzi Larbalestier volunteers her time rescuing sea animals in England and was recently presented with the Animal Action Award for her work.
While her care of animals was displayed in her efforts to save injured seals and other marine life, she went above and beyond the usual protocol, according to the Good News Network.
She turned her Airbnb property into a marine-life animal hospital. When her efforts outgrew the property, Larbalestier and her husband built a fully functioning seal hospital in Cornwall.
The new hospital has additional pens and spacing to house injured seals and space for medical care from volunteer medics.
She estimates that around 100 seals will need rehabilitation in the next year. From stranded seal pups to fully grown seals that have been injured, Larbalestier’s hospital is ready for the challenges ahead.
Larbalestier said, “The pups get rescued by any one of us volunteer medics and, if necessary, get brought into the hospital where a vet will check them over and create a treatment plan.”
“We have clear protocols to ensure pups get the very best care, it is a real team effort,” she went on.
She also noted, “We offer critical care for these animals post-rescue, [and] this stabilizes the pups and prepares them to move to larger rehabilitation centers.”
Throughout her years of volunteer work, she has rescued around 1,000 seals. Last year alone, she helped field 3,000 calls from local residents reporting about seals in need.
Larbalestier stated, “It is so important if anyone comes across a stranded marine mammal that they call for trained responders.”
During the awards ceremony, Azzedine Downes, president and CEO of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), stated, “The Animal Action Awards are our long-standing commitment to honor and herald the animal heroes that make an impact.”
We are proud to introduce you to the 2023 Animal Action Award Winners! Meet Nikki Buxton, Roxy Danckwerts, Sacha Dench, Lizzi Larbalestier, Davey the Spaniel, Jose Palazzo & Nick Harding accepting for Simon Cowell MBE. We look forward to sharing more of their inspiring stories. pic.twitter.com/uPpod33xS8
— ifaw (@ifawglobal) October 18, 2023
The organization’s X, formerly Twitter, account posted a picture of the award recipients, including Labalestier. The caption stated, “We are proud to introduce you to the 2023 Animal Action Award Winners!”
