Come join us for a delicious vegan buffet for only $13.95 to be followed by a presentation from Jill Robinson.

Jill Robinson MBE, Founder and Executive Director of the Animals Asia Foundation ( www.AnimalsAsia.org) and Founder of the Dr. Dog program, will be in the U.S. for a visit this fall.   This is an incredible opportunity to see and hear Jill Robinson in person, as she currently resides in China.  

Jill has worked in Asia since 1985.   Repeatedly faced with scenes of widespread animal cruelty, Jill decided to introduce the concept of “animal welfare through people welfare” and founded “Dr. Dog” in Hong Kong in 1991 – the first animal-therapy program of its kind in Asia.   Today, over 350 dogs and their dedicated volunteers make regular visits to hospitals, centers for the disabled, schools and homes for the elderly in 10 cities across Asia, spreading warmth and love to people in need, while promoting companion animals as our friends and helpers.

Additionally, millions of dogs and cats are killed for their meat and fur each year in China. Animals Asia's Friends or Food? Campaign helps to raise awareness about this issue and teach people that these are companion animals and not food.

In 1993, a chance visit to a bear farm in southern China changed Jill's life.    Exposing the plight of endangered Asiatic black bears (also known as "moon bears") cruelly farmed and milked for their bile, and learning how easily herbs and synthetics could replace bear bile, Jill embarked on a journey to end the practice of bear farming once and for all.   In 1995, she secured the release of the original bears she had discovered in 1993. In 1998, she founded Animals Asia and in July 2000 she and the Animals Asia team signed a breakthrough agreement with the Chinese authorities to rescue 500 farmed bears and work towards promoting herbal alternatives to bile and the elimination of bear farming.   In 2006, Animals Asia signed an agreement with the Vietnamese government to rescue 200 bears.

Today, the Moon Bear Rescue has seen the rescue of 352 bears, including 277 bears in China and 75 bears in Vietnam.  Animals Asia’s Moon Bear Rescue sanctuaries are spearheading far-reaching community, education and welfare programs, which benefit both animals and people alike.

Jill is a Council Member of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) Herbal Committee, a former member of the Hong Kong Government’s Animal Welfare Advisory Group, and an Honorary Adviser to the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong.

Jill has given hundreds of presentations throughout the world and has been interviewed by CNN, GMTV, Channel 5 (UK), Sky News, BBC News, “Woman's Hour” and the USA’s National Public Radio and Voice of America. The China Bear Rescue was the subject of the award-winning British “Really Wild Show Special”, which screened in January 2003, and Animals Asia’s own in-house film, “China Bear Rescue…The Beginning”, has won countless awards worldwide. Most recently, Jill was featured in Animal Planet’s one-hour special, "Moon Bears: Journey to Freedom" narrated by Stephen Fry.

Jill has won many awards, including being awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth in the Birthday Honours List in 1998, in recognition of her services to animal welfare in Asia, and in 2002 being presented with the Genesis Award in the U.S. (the only major media and arts award concerning animal issues.) In 2010, Jill was awarded a "You Bring Charm to China” award at a ceremony held by Phoenix Satellite Television and Tianjin TV to recognize 12 prominent foreign people that have enriched life in China through their contribution to business, education, medical care, disaster relief and environmental protection.   Also in 2010, Jill was awarded with the Carole Noon Award for Sanctuary Excellence by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) for Animals Asia’s moon bear rescue centers in China and Vietnam.  She has won additional awards too numerous to mention here.   Additional information about her organization and the wonderful work it continues to do can be found at www.AnimalsAsia.org.

Above see the before and after photos of Animals Asia's gorgeous bear, Jasper, first incarcerated in a cruel crush cage and after, happy and healthy in the care of Animals Asia.