Recognition
Honours
Our responders are volunteers. They receive no salary and no bonus: these honours are what marks their commitment. Each has a precise criterion, and is worn on the uniform.
Acts
These honours recognise a specific operation, on an officer’s recommendation and after review of the mission report.
Citation for bravery
Awarded to a responder who accepted real personal risk to rescue an animal. The organisation's highest honour.
Meritorious service mention
Recognises an operation carried out with remarkable composure, ingenuity or technical mastery, beyond what was expected.
Life saved insignia
Given to a responder whose direct action allowed an animal to survive a situation that would otherwise have been fatal.
Service and contribution
These honours recognise duration, consistency and the role held within the organisation.
Long service medal, five years
Five years of active service and good conduct.
Long service medal, ten years
Ten years of active service. A clasp is added to the ribbon for each additional five years.
Instructor insignia
Worn by a responder qualified to teach and evaluate, who has trained members of the team.
Executive Director's commendation
Awarded by the Executive Director for a sustained contribution that has shaped the organisation, in the field or in support.
Deployments
These bars mark taking part in an operation outside our usual territory.
Disaster deployment bar
Worn by any responder deployed to a major disaster outside our usual territory, at the request of the authorities.
International mission bar
Worn by any responder who took part in an organisation mission abroad.
Wearing the honours
Bars are worn on the uniform, above the chest patch, ordered from highest to lowest starting from the wearer’s right. Honours for acts come before service honours, which come before deployment bars.
An honour is never requested. It is proposed by an officer, documented from the mission registry, then approved by the Executive Director. It is presented before the team and entered in the responder’s file.