First there were the BAFTAs, then the Brits and now the glittering Veterinary Oscars! This is your chance to make a difference by honouring a celebrity vet who has brought a greater understanding of the animal world to the public through their involvement in the media.

The Petplan’s Special Recognition Award is the only award in the UK that invites you to vote for the vet you feel is most deserving and has promoted the health and welfare of our animals to us through TV, radio, news-papers or magazines.


The celebrity vets who have been short-listed for this prestigious title of 2008 are:

• Popular TV Zoo Vet Matt Brash
• Veterinary legend Bruce Fogle
• Children’s presenter and foodie Joe Inglis
• The fearless and adventurous Steve Leonard and
• Morning TV’s favourite Scott Miller.

So, who of these vets do you think deserves a big thank you?

The Petplan Special Recognition Award, which forms part of the Petplan Veterinary Awards now in its eighth year, will be presented by last year’s winner, celebrity TV vet Marc Abraham at a glittering awards ceremony on 3 April in Birmingham.

Commenting on last year’s achievement, Marc says: 'With so much more information available to today’s pet owner than ever before, the media now plays a major part in influencing and promoting 'responsible pet ownership'. I'm proud to have been recognised by the British public for my work in this field, educating pet-owners and most importantly, making a positive impact on many animals’ lives. So get voting for this year’s Vet Oscars!'

If you think that one of the above mentioned celebrity vets deserves to scoop the award, then cast your vote by visiting www.petplan.co.uk. The deadline for voting is 20 March 2008.


THE NOMINEES

Steve Leonard - Steve has had a considerable amount of success since graduating from ‘Vets in Practice’. He co-presented ‘Vets in the Wild’ with Trude while holding down a full time job at a veterinary practice in Lancaster. Last year Steve presented the BBC series ‘Journey of Life’ following wild animals on their migration. More recently, Steve filmed the BBC series, Orangutan Diaries in Borneo before heading off to the hottest place on earth to film a documentary on ‘Hell on Earth’ last November.

Why nominate? Steve is probably the bravest of all the vets having been chased by a cheetah; swum with piranhas and great white sharks: stung by killer bees and mauled by a rabbit!
Joe Inglis - Another successful vet from ‘Vets in Practice’, Joe is devoted to the health of the nationís pets, and in 2007 launched Pets Get Slim, a national campaign to combat pet obesity with the RSPCA.

Through his appearances on ‘The One Show’ on BBC-1 and ‘Wright Stuff’ on C5, he helps pet owners to look after their pets, and even offers free vet advice through his website www.petskitchen.co.uk

In the last year, Joe also rowed 150 miles down the Thames in a giant dog bowl to raise money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, and cooked a fresh Christmas Dinner for dogs in rescue centres from Battersea to Edinburgh!

Why nominate? Joe hosts skills and career workshops around the country for aspiring vets. Joe is always thinking of innovative ways to promote responsible pet ownership and pet welfare and is currently persuading families to cook for their pet.

Bruce Fogle - The veteran of our nominees. Bruce Fogle may be known to most as the father of Ben Fogle, the television presenter, but living in Bruce’s shadow arguably helped Ben land presenting roles for Animal Park and Crufts. Bruce started his career in England at Regents Park Zoo, but soon moved to smaller animals at a veterinary practice in Knightsbridge, London. Bruce holds honorary memberships to veterinary associations across the globe.

Why nominate? Bruce has dedicated his life to helping animals and has been heavily involved with the media - one of the first celebrity vets.

Matt Brash - Initially starring in a series of short stories about his work at Flamingo Land in 1998, which was followed by two BBC Series, ‘Vets to the Rescue’ and ‘Vets in the Country’, Matt has become a popular TV vet. More recently, Matt’s ITV series, ‘Zoo Vet’ and ‘Zoo Vet at Large’, have received popular acclaim the world over. Whilst regularly being featured on TV and radio, Matt recently launched his enlightening book ‘Zoo Vet’ which traces his colourful journey through life and work with weird and wonderful exotic wild animals. Matt also has three busy small animal, horse and exotic animal practices based just of outside York.

Why nominate? Matt is probably the most recognised Vet in the media for his tireless work to raise awareness of Zoo animals in the UK.

Scott Miller - Originally from Australia, Scott works in a veterinary hospital in East London whilst appearing as the resident vet on ITV1's This Morning for the last five years. Scott recently hosted ‘Extinct’ for Meridian, a programme highlighting the plight of endangered species, whilst regularly appearing on BBC Breakfast News.

Why nominate? Working closely with many worthy charities both in the UK and abroad, Scott tirelessly endeavours to advocate animal welfare issues worldwide.