Lisa Milella fund to continue pioneering work after vet diagnosed with MND
A special fund has been set up to continue the pioneering work of veterinary dental specialist Lisa Milella, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) five years ago.
For the past 13 years, Lisa has worked with International Animal Rescue (IAR), donating her time and expertise to performing dental surgery on animals that have suffered terrible cruelty at the hands of humans.
Lisa established the Lisa Milella Veterinary Dental Fund (LMVDF), which is being launched today (15 November) at London Vet Show, to ensure her groundbreaking work continues to benefit animals in desperate need of treatment.
She first started working with IAR in 2005 when she travelled to India to relieve the pain of rescued dancing bears whose teeth had been knocked out to make them easier to control.
Working with IAR trustee Paul Cassar, she performed pioneering surgery on the bears’ damaged teeth and gums, carrying out root canal treatment to retain the integrity of their jaws. Since then, they have travelled to India numerous times to relieve the pain of dozens of dancing bears suffering from infections, abscesses and bony growths.
Having worked with Indian sloth bears, she turned her attention to tiny slow lorises in Indonesia, whose teeth are clipped off by market traders before they are sold as pets. She has also treated tigers rescued from circuses in India, as well as a diabetic orang-utan in Borneo that had been kept as a pet and fed on sweets and fizzy drinks.
Alan Knight OBE, IAR chief executive, said: “Lisa is an extraordinary person who has used her exceptional skills to relieve the suffering of countless animals around the world. I feel privileged to count her as a colleague and a close friend.
“I hope the many individuals and corporations she has worked with over the years and indeed those who learn of her achievements through the Fund will elect to honour her professional expertise and her personal courage by making a generous contribution to it.
"I can’t think of a more fitting way of paying tribute to everything she has accomplished during her life and her career.”
Lisa is bequeathing a substantial amount of her estate to the fund in her will. Once sufficient funds have been raised, animal charities will be able to apply to the fund for help treating animals with serious dental issues.
It will be managed and administered by a panel of veterinary experts under the umbrella of IAR. The fund is seeking donations and veterinary dentists to donate their time and skills to those cases that are accepted.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
