Catherine O'Driscoll
1st December 1956 - 12th November 2020
1st December 1956 - 12th November 2020
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“Chappie was our first Golden Retriever, a rescue dog, the product of a broken home who came to us when he was 18 months old. I had waited years for him because I worked and couldn’t bear the thought of saying goodbye to a dog every morning, leaving him to endless days of solitary confinement. Now that I was working from home I had my chance – and I took it”.
“Our second Retriever, Sophie, came to us when she was four months old and virtually house trained….. watching Sophie and Chappie play together proved to be the best entertainment we could have…they kept each other fit and happy, and we found that the ‘work’ involved in Golden ownership halved rather than doubled.” |
Chappie and Sophie |
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“When we went to collect Pru, a small and endearing bundle of Golden fun took hold of my fingers between his teeth and refused to let go. His little tail, and his entire bottom wiggled with joy. It was Oliver.”
“Prudence is the lap dog par excellence, the softest cuddliest person you could ever meet. It is Prudence who looks after her brothers and sister… who welcomes visitors with big wet kisses. And the children who come to visit always go to Pru for an abundance of love and cuddles.” “We learnt a lot from Oliver: how to be happy from a true master of the art, how to value every moment, how to take pleasure in little things, and how it is to be totally and unconditionally loved.” |
Oliver and Prudence as pups, with Chappie and Sophie, then all four as adults. |
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“On Monday, 2nd September 1991, the best friend I have ever had died. Oliver had packed several lifetimes of fun and jollity into four short years… Oliver was a handsome huggable Golden Retriever, a positive delight to have around…” |
Oliver
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“Samson , like all dogs, has a great sense of order: but his seems to be more pronounced… he has earned himself the title of, ‘keeper of the clock’… he loves me so much he wants to merge with me (starting with his big black nose sinking through my face).” |
Samson
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The quotes from Catherine are taken from her 1994 book ‘The Golden Retriever Companion – A Chronicle of Joy’. Catherine started writing this after Ollie had died. Catherine had woke to find Ollie with paralysed back legs and he died at the vets that afternoon. By the time she had finished writing the book Pru had also died aged 6, of Leukaemia. Chappie had a long list of ailments including hypothyroidism, hot spots, leg strains, and ear infections. At 7 years old Sophie had crippling arthritis (but was later resolved/controlled by complementary therapies).
During the course of writing the book Catherine was to be introduced to many contacts and research that would change the course of her life (and many thousands of people worldwide).
Following Oliver’s death she had begun asking ‘why?’ and through vets like Chris Day, Jean Dodds, and Ian Billinghurst, and the work of Professor Ron Schultz, the answers became apparent. Further contact with many others vets and alternative practitioners gave her further evidence and that other modalities could be effective in the treatment of dogs and so much safer than the conventional option. Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Herbs, McTimoney Chiropractic, Radionics, Reiki to name a few.
Following Oliver’s death she had begun asking ‘why?’ and through vets like Chris Day, Jean Dodds, and Ian Billinghurst, and the work of Professor Ron Schultz, the answers became apparent. Further contact with many others vets and alternative practitioners gave her further evidence and that other modalities could be effective in the treatment of dogs and so much safer than the conventional option. Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Herbs, McTimoney Chiropractic, Radionics, Reiki to name a few.
By the time ‘The Golden Retriever Companion’ was published in 1994 CHC was already in its infancy, initially as Canine Health Census with the intention to conduct independent research into the health of dogs and the journey truly began in earnest gathering forms to complete their survey. The first Canine Health Census newsletter was published in 1995.
Catherine was a writer and researcher, experienced and well qualified in understanding scientific documents and translating them into layman’s terms. Throughout her work she publicised paper after scientific paper that backed up what she was saying.
Special mention also needs to go to John Watt, Catherine’s husband at that time. Without him Catherine couldn’t have achieved what she did.
Special mention also needs to go to John Watt, Catherine’s husband at that time. Without him Catherine couldn’t have achieved what she did.
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After Pru died in February 1994, Gwinnie arrived.
Gwinnie was another re-homed Golden Retriever and arrived in April 1994 aged 6 months. She was a bit of a punk and also liked her freedom but was a love bucket and adored her mum, and was best pals with Samson. She had been vaccinated as a pup but never again by Catherine. In middle age she ruptured her cruciate ligaments, and Catherine opted to go for acupuncture, homeopathy and rehabilitation rather than surgery. Whereas she never regained full mobility it didn’t stop her living life to the full and was still walking over the moors every day in her final days aged 15. |
Chappie (barking in the background),
Sophie, Samson & Gwinnie |
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Catherine, John and Samson appeared on the ITV programme Strange But True hosted by Michael Aspel. The first half of the show dedicated to dogs’ incredible sixth sense, including knowing when their owners are coming home as researched by Rupert Sheldrake.
Samson had vaccine reactions from his second puppy shot and first ‘booster’ and even though Catherine had stopped the boosters the damage had been done and he died of cancer in the spring of 1997 aged 5. |
Strange But True (edit)
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Enter Edward and Daniel in May 1997. Ed and Dan were Catherine’s first two non-vaccinated and raw fed only dogs (they appear together with Sophie and Gwinnie in the World In Action clip further below).
Of Daniel, Catherine wrote: "For weeks after Dannie died, I was distressed when I walked into a room and he wasn’t there. I resented very much that he was no longer with me, no longer cracking jokes and acting the clown; no longer smiling at me and giving me beautiful butterfly kisses; no longer stalking us in the Highlands, staying close enough to know where we were, but far enough away to revel in the freedom of the hills. I wanted to see his tail on the skyline again. I wanted him to be here now, picking up his enormous teddy bear and dancing down the hall, looking so adorable that my heart nearly burst."
"I see Dannie lying under the sheet – he loved me to cover his head and poke him through the cloth. I see him rolling in the fields, and rolling even harder if I joined in and laughed. I remember he was hopeless at catching balls or titbits. He tried, really he did - but he must have been at the end of the line when the coordination was handed out. He was a canine Bennie Hill, tongue lolling out for his comedy catching showcase."
"And I was free to remember the happiness of Daniel O’Driscoll, Laughter Dog, Shimmering, Sparkling, Joy-filled Master Dog."
"I see Dannie lying under the sheet – he loved me to cover his head and poke him through the cloth. I see him rolling in the fields, and rolling even harder if I joined in and laughed. I remember he was hopeless at catching balls or titbits. He tried, really he did - but he must have been at the end of the line when the coordination was handed out. He was a canine Bennie Hill, tongue lolling out for his comedy catching showcase."
"And I was free to remember the happiness of Daniel O’Driscoll, Laughter Dog, Shimmering, Sparkling, Joy-filled Master Dog."
Of Edward, Catherine wrote: "Edward was such a special dog. He had a very big brain, and a very big heart, and ‘Enthusiasm’ was his middle name. Edward was the epitome of the perfect dog, the perfect companion, the perfect friend. He filled our lives with joy and laughter, and he made sure that during all the ups and downs of life, I never once felt alone."
"And yet if Rob and I close our eyes, Edward is still with us. His presence is all around us. All the happy memories, tinged with pain – Edward in the water, Edward collecting stones, Edward keeping Rob company as he mows the lawn, Edward demanding to play, Edward teasing Dannie, Edward lying beside me by the bed, Edward running up steep hills, Edward catching rabbits, Edward on the beach … Edward smiling and talking to us. Edward there by our side, with us constantly – in our minds and in our hearts. We were so privileged to know him. Thank you Edward for being our friend."
"And yet if Rob and I close our eyes, Edward is still with us. His presence is all around us. All the happy memories, tinged with pain – Edward in the water, Edward collecting stones, Edward keeping Rob company as he mows the lawn, Edward demanding to play, Edward teasing Dannie, Edward lying beside me by the bed, Edward running up steep hills, Edward catching rabbits, Edward on the beach … Edward smiling and talking to us. Edward there by our side, with us constantly – in our minds and in our hearts. We were so privileged to know him. Thank you Edward for being our friend."
Catherine and John had already adopted Ian Billinghurst’s BARF diet for their dogs and brought Ian over and arranged UK lecture tours to promote the diet and his ground-breaking book ‘Give Your Dog A Bone’, in addition to Catherine’s never ending lecture tours herself, that would take her around the UK, into Europe, North America, and beyond.
Catherine was in full flow with seminars in a bid to reach out to the wider public and published her first book on the subject ‘Who Killed The Darling Buds of May’ in 1997 that included the first set of results from the CHC survey that showed the range of illnesses that started within three months of a vaccination. The ‘Darling Buds of May’ if you hadn’t guessed it referred to Ollie and Pru who were born in May.
By this stage Canine Health Census had become Canine Health Concern, explained by Catherine in this clip from a breed club seminar. |
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In 1998 the second edition of her book now just titled ‘What Vets Don’t Tell You About Vaccines’ was published including the updated results of the CHC survey confirming the earlier findings.
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Following meeting TV producer Brian James at a Reiki workshop Catherine appeared on the prime time ITV ‘World In Action’. Featuring Sophie, Gwinnie, Edward and Daniel. The full programme can be seen here. |
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Catherine had various appearances on radio shows, but in these earlier days it was the norm for Catherine to be shouted down, drowned out or cut-off by/in favour of the industry vet who had been wheeled in to ensure ‘conformity’.
Among the various complementary therapies Catherine came across she discovered EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), an energy therapy that would play a big part in her life, both personally and professionally as the years went by. She described EFT as being like acupuncture without the needles.
Chappie died in November 1999.
Among the various complementary therapies Catherine came across she discovered EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), an energy therapy that would play a big part in her life, both personally and professionally as the years went by. She described EFT as being like acupuncture without the needles.
Chappie died in November 1999.
By 2000 the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) announced that annual vaccination was unnecessary. This was one of several veterinary associations that would eventually confirm that Catherine was indeed telling the truth. One announcement quoted a UK campaigning group as one of the reasons for making their statement (CHC was the only campaigning group in this respect in the UK).
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Sophie died in June 2001. This clip features Edward, Dannie and Gwinnie, and the beautiful spot where Sophie was buried. |
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Catherine and John had divorced a couple of years earlier, and in 2004 Rob Ellis joined Catherine. Having been an active CHC member since 1997 and restoring his own dogs’ health through Catherine’s work, he and Catherine were the perfect match not only for CHC but also for each other.
Despite the AVMA announcement the veterinary ‘industry’ still continued to sell annual vaccination as a necessary requirement. Catherine continued her talks and work. She also taught EFT in workshops around the UK.
In addition to veterinary bodies around the world amending their vaccine protocols, 31 vets in the UK wrote an open letter to the Veterinary Times calling for an end to annual vaccination.
In addition to veterinary bodies around the world amending their vaccine protocols, 31 vets in the UK wrote an open letter to the Veterinary Times calling for an end to annual vaccination.
Catherine formalised her work in the form of the Foundation in Canine Healthcare courses. A series of lectures together with a home study element, for which CHC was listed as a course provider for the Kennel Club KCAI Scheme. This again took Catherine (and Rob) around the UK plus further talks and seminars overseas. The Foundation courses pieced together all the major areas that affect health, this was about achieving good health by doing all the right things whilst avoiding all the things that cause ill-health.
A series of YouTube videos were also made available.
A series of YouTube videos were also made available.
In 2005 Catherine published her next book ‘Shock To The System’, which brought all the pieces of the jigsaw together in the written form. 'Shock' was then re-printed with the North American distributor Dogwise in 2006. |
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27 veterinary schools in America amended their vaccine protocols, again backing up what Catherine was saying. And although she had previously written for some dog papers she was now being sought to write regular columns for some of the dog press, while still actively being shunned by others.
In 2005 Catherine wrote 'Pet Vaccination: An Institutionalised Crime' (scroll down on that link) originally published in Nexus Magazine. This included her 'Science of Vaccine Damage' segment that brought to light the Purdue Study which showed that:
"The vaccinated, but not the non-vaccinated, dogs in the Purdue studies developed autoantibodies to many of their own biochemicals, including fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, cytochrome C, cardiolipin and collagen."
"Perhaps most worryingly, the Purdue studies found that the vaccinated dogs had developed autoantibodies to their own DNA. The vaccinated dogs were attacking their own genetic blueprint."
The article/segment has been published or quoted many times across the world, often without crediting Catherine.
"The vaccinated, but not the non-vaccinated, dogs in the Purdue studies developed autoantibodies to many of their own biochemicals, including fibronectin, laminin, DNA, albumin, cytochrome C, cardiolipin and collagen."
"Perhaps most worryingly, the Purdue studies found that the vaccinated dogs had developed autoantibodies to their own DNA. The vaccinated dogs were attacking their own genetic blueprint."
The article/segment has been published or quoted many times across the world, often without crediting Catherine.
In July 2006 Catherine and Rob were married.
2007 also saw the production of the CHC Member funded ‘In Search of the Truth About Dogs’ DVD, that would also be distributed through Dogwise and go on to win the 2008 best DVD award from the Dog Writer’s Association of America.
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Catherine had also put together a series of lectures/workshops on Holistic Canine Healthcare, Energy Healing and Animal Communication with which she toured the UK.
In 2009 Catherine appeared on the Sky Channel TV show ‘On The Edge’, together with American vet Dr Patricia Jordan, and created a series of internet webinars so that people could see her lectures from the comfort of their own homes.
You can see 'On The Edge' here, and one of the webinars here.
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In 2010 Catherine and Rob added little Georgie to the fold. Georgie was a five and a half year old rescue Papillon, vaccine damaged, behavioural issues (to say the least), digestive intolerances and allergies. Quite a little package but Catherine, Rob and Edward would soon find him the most loving and adorable little fella you could ever wish for, despite, or maybe because of the challenges they faced with him.
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2010 also saw Golden brother and sister Freddie and Ruby joined the gang, and sadly Edward died the same year.
Catherine wrote:
"Freddie and Ruby are now thirteen weeks old. What marvellous people these two puppies are. Freddie is deep and loving, and Ruby is an affectionate little minx. Although we had hoped to get our pups from a naturally reared litter, that fell through and we found another litter, with pups who were born in April. We are so glad that Edward was able to spend a few weeks with them before he left us. Just tiny babies, and already they are saving our lives and giving us life in place of grief.
Georgie, our little rescue Papillon, is a founding member of the Freddie and Ruby fan club."
Catherine wrote:
"Freddie and Ruby are now thirteen weeks old. What marvellous people these two puppies are. Freddie is deep and loving, and Ruby is an affectionate little minx. Although we had hoped to get our pups from a naturally reared litter, that fell through and we found another litter, with pups who were born in April. We are so glad that Edward was able to spend a few weeks with them before he left us. Just tiny babies, and already they are saving our lives and giving us life in place of grief.
Georgie, our little rescue Papillon, is a founding member of the Freddie and Ruby fan club."
Catherine brought a great amount of research (ignored by the veterinary community) to light over the years. We should also not fail to mention all the research on pet food and other areas that affect our dogs’ health, such as anti-parasite products (she first did this with the cancer inducing Carbaryl that would see those products removed from the market in the 1990’s) and of course the promotion and/or research with complementary therapies and natural products. Much of this work brought to light the incestuous relationship between corporate manufacturers/big pharma, government bodies/so-called regulators, and the veterinary industry.
In addition to the Purdue Study (Science of Vaccine Damage 2005) she also publicised the work of a Japanese study that showed a number of unidentified vaccines had been contaminated with a retro-virus, that could cause cancer and leukaemia. She wrote to the VMD who, apart from issuing a statement saying they follow their usual safety procedures and therefore stand by their licenses issued for those products, did nothing. How many of the thousands of cases of cancers we have seen over the years were due to this we will never know. What we do know is if the VMD were not prepared to look at the issue seriously and engage the pharmaceutical industry on the matter then our dogs and cats, and horses and rabbits, are not important to them other than being a set of numbers on a corporation balance sheet.
2010 also saw the WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) and their Vaccine Guideline Group (VGG) publish new vaccine guidelines that not only stated that re-vaccination was unnecessary and provides no benefit, but also at the risk of adverse reactions and listed the range in-keeping with Catherine’s findings. They also issued the statement seeking to avoid vaccination where it was not needed and for vets in practice to be educated as such. They were also in support of the use of titer testing as a tool to show immunity and therefore no need for re-vaccination.
New in-house titer testing kits (VacciCheck) were now available. These were simple and could provide results within 20 minutes.
Catherine went on to publicise the WSAVA guidelines and promote the use of VacciCheck. She did this as part of a new initiative called the Pet Welfare Alliance (PWA), bringing together a worldwide community of vets and advocates for animals. All animal bodies (vets, boarding establishments, local authorities, breeders, dog clubs etc) in the UK were sent letters asking them to follow the WSAVA guidelines and promoted the use of VacciCheck.
Later the PWA would successfully lobby for the CIEH (Chartered Institute for Environmental Health) to have titer testing included in their kennel vaccine guidelines.
Catherine went on to publicise the WSAVA guidelines and promote the use of VacciCheck. She did this as part of a new initiative called the Pet Welfare Alliance (PWA), bringing together a worldwide community of vets and advocates for animals. All animal bodies (vets, boarding establishments, local authorities, breeders, dog clubs etc) in the UK were sent letters asking them to follow the WSAVA guidelines and promoted the use of VacciCheck.
Later the PWA would successfully lobby for the CIEH (Chartered Institute for Environmental Health) to have titer testing included in their kennel vaccine guidelines.
Catherine also lobbied the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) who were responsible for licensing unnecessary one year vaccines in the UK. This took a considerable amount of time and effort that culminated in a 350 page document to support her case (all to no avail). You can see this here.
In 2011 'Shock To The System' was published in Italian, and in 2012 Catherine published her next book ‘The Animals’ Agenda’. This lovely book brought together Animal Communication, and EFT for animals and their people. |
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2012 also saw various radio friendly appearances, even on the BBC!
You can hear these here (amongst other media coverage on that page).
You can hear these here (amongst other media coverage on that page).
In 2013 Catherine had lobbied the WSAVA and the UK Kennel Club with regard to the KC Assured Breeders Scheme vaccination policy that the WSAVA had endorsed. To cut a long story short this resulted in Catherine writing a new WSAVA Puppy Vaccination Summary in conjunction with the WSAVA. Not bad for a non-vet who had been castigated by the UK veterinary community as being an emotional grief stricken dog owner! Armed with this accolade she lobbied the UK Kennel Club initially with no success in bringing their amended guidelines in line with actual WSAVA as they had intimated. However, at a later date their wording on vaccine advice had been improved to some extent and links to the WSAVA guidelines and Puppy Vaccination Summary were added to their Assured Breeders Scheme puppy packs.
Over the next few years Catherine continued to lecture, while much of her time was taken up with researching and writing two new books (see below). Two very time consuming and extensive projects.
However, when the RCVS issued a position statement on CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) saying all vets (including those who practice the CAM Modalities) have to offer the drug route first, in effect placing a ban on CAM, in backing the CAM vets and practitioners Catherine launched a postcard campaign for pet owners to send to the RCVS in support of CAM and against the measures being taken.
However, when the RCVS issued a position statement on CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) saying all vets (including those who practice the CAM Modalities) have to offer the drug route first, in effect placing a ban on CAM, in backing the CAM vets and practitioners Catherine launched a postcard campaign for pet owners to send to the RCVS in support of CAM and against the measures being taken.
In 2018 Catherine published her two new books, The Tip of the Needle’ and The REAL Epidemic. Work that she had been putting together over the previous three or four years.
On writing ‘The Tip of the Needle’ Catherine said:
“The Tip of the Needle paints the bigger picture: the fact that your over-vaccinated, vaccine damaged dog is literally just the tip of the needle. There is so much more behind our dogs’ suffering, affecting humans and every vaccinated species on earth.”
“My aim was to make The Tip of the Needle a really good read. After all, no-one wants to sit and plough through dry scientific data. So Tip has a heart, telling my story and the CHC story (you might even be in it), moving out to encompass the shady dealings behind the vaccines your dogs, children and grandchildren might receive. I put my heart and soul into writing this book because human beings desperately need to know what’s going on. Even I was shocked by what I learnt and subsequently wrote in Tip.”
‘The REAL Epidemic’ was sub-titled ‘Preventing and Treating Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases in your dog (and yourself). The vet Dr Ian Billinghurst said:
“This book makes an ideal present for Dog Owners, Dog Breeders, Dog Trainers… in fact anyone who plays any role at all in the world of dogs.”
“If this book were to become required reading for every undergraduate and newly graduated veterinarian, we could look forward to a time, in the not too distant future, when there would be far less canine suffering.”
“This book makes an ideal present for Dog Owners, Dog Breeders, Dog Trainers… in fact anyone who plays any role at all in the world of dogs.”
“If this book were to become required reading for every undergraduate and newly graduated veterinarian, we could look forward to a time, in the not too distant future, when there would be far less canine suffering.”
In 2018 little Georgie died. A little dog that left a huge hole. Catherine wrote:
"Our little man, Georgie, went to the Great Mystery in May. He was 13 years old, not a great age for a small dog – but good insofar as he came to us at the age of five with considerable problems. According to a leaflet I picked up at the vets, 13 for a small dog is 68 in human terms.
George was very badly vaccine damaged and came to us with both physical and emotional issues. But with time, vaccine-damage treatments, love, compassion, patience, tolerance and a willingness to listen to him, George transformed into the most rewarding, lovable, joyous dog in the world. He taught us a great deal. He was intelligent, thoughtful, full of joy and love … and was a huge presence in a small body. In fact, his little body has left a massive hole.
Life without George has been terrible – I guess you all know that feeling. The thing is, Georgie was the easiest dog to love. He was our guru.
Rob and I are pretty confident that George is on the other side being cuddled – something his vaccine damage stopped him from enjoying whilst in physical form. Run free little man, and we look forward to seeing you again."
"Our little man, Georgie, went to the Great Mystery in May. He was 13 years old, not a great age for a small dog – but good insofar as he came to us at the age of five with considerable problems. According to a leaflet I picked up at the vets, 13 for a small dog is 68 in human terms.
George was very badly vaccine damaged and came to us with both physical and emotional issues. But with time, vaccine-damage treatments, love, compassion, patience, tolerance and a willingness to listen to him, George transformed into the most rewarding, lovable, joyous dog in the world. He taught us a great deal. He was intelligent, thoughtful, full of joy and love … and was a huge presence in a small body. In fact, his little body has left a massive hole.
Life without George has been terrible – I guess you all know that feeling. The thing is, Georgie was the easiest dog to love. He was our guru.
Rob and I are pretty confident that George is on the other side being cuddled – something his vaccine damage stopped him from enjoying whilst in physical form. Run free little man, and we look forward to seeing you again."
In July 2019 Catherine was diagnosed with bulbar-onset motor neurone disease, the version that starts in the head where more common forms finish, meaning a shorter life expectancy. There is little information or research on the cause (officially no one knows) and even less available for treatment (officially, none). Despite doing what Catherine does best, researching, it was sadly a battle she was not to win.
Catherine sadly passed away on 12th November 2020, leaving husband Rob and her two other favourite people (dogs are people too) Freddie and Ruby.
Catherine sadly passed away on 12th November 2020, leaving husband Rob and her two other favourite people (dogs are people too) Freddie and Ruby.
Catherine not only brought the vaccination issue into mainstream discussion, and her campaigning resulting in policy/protocol change, she pioneered the raw feeding movement, and was hugely successful in the promotion and popularity with complementary therapies (one homeopathic pharmacy told Catherine how they credited CHC for the huge rise in the popularity of homeopathy in the animal world at that time). Year after year Catherine continued to report on health issues with new research affecting areas across the board. Year after year she provided help and support for dogs and their owners in their plight for better health. You can see the immense importance Catherine made to people’s lives on the tribute page (link below), from all walks of life, dog owners, the veterinary community/homeopathic association etc etc.
Following Catherine’s passing she was made an honorary associate member of the RFVS (Raw Feeding Veterinary Society) and credited with being the forerunner of what they would go on to do.
Over the years since 1994 Catherine has suffered ridicule, death threats, accusations, betrayal, and personal loss, but on each occasion rose above to stand by her own oath to the dogs.
Catherine was a true pioneer. Many people (perhaps including you who are reading this now) may not actually have heard of Catherine O’Driscoll or CHC before – CHC has always been a low budget/member supported organisation and in that way was able to stay truly independent with no industry ties or conflicts of interest to sway her work in one way or another, but she set in motion so much that many others now follow.
Above all Catherine’s work has directly positively affected tens of thousands or indirectly probably hundreds of thousands of lives for dogs and other animals and their humans to be able to live better and healthier lives. All she ever wanted was for dogs, and other animals and humans, to have real freedom of choice to live their lives with access to the truth and not be lied to.
“To be frank, I didn’t need to do this. I could have stopped vaccinating my dogs, and started feeding them raw meat, bones and vegetables, and kept it to myself. I could have taken up homeopathy, herbs and other complementary healthcare modalities, and minded my own business where everyone else was concerned. But I couldn’t bear the thought of living in a world like that – where people like me stood over the bodies of their dead dogs asking ‘Why?’ – and nobody telling them.” Catherine O'Driscoll.
Following Catherine’s passing she was made an honorary associate member of the RFVS (Raw Feeding Veterinary Society) and credited with being the forerunner of what they would go on to do.
Over the years since 1994 Catherine has suffered ridicule, death threats, accusations, betrayal, and personal loss, but on each occasion rose above to stand by her own oath to the dogs.
Catherine was a true pioneer. Many people (perhaps including you who are reading this now) may not actually have heard of Catherine O’Driscoll or CHC before – CHC has always been a low budget/member supported organisation and in that way was able to stay truly independent with no industry ties or conflicts of interest to sway her work in one way or another, but she set in motion so much that many others now follow.
Above all Catherine’s work has directly positively affected tens of thousands or indirectly probably hundreds of thousands of lives for dogs and other animals and their humans to be able to live better and healthier lives. All she ever wanted was for dogs, and other animals and humans, to have real freedom of choice to live their lives with access to the truth and not be lied to.
“To be frank, I didn’t need to do this. I could have stopped vaccinating my dogs, and started feeding them raw meat, bones and vegetables, and kept it to myself. I could have taken up homeopathy, herbs and other complementary healthcare modalities, and minded my own business where everyone else was concerned. But I couldn’t bear the thought of living in a world like that – where people like me stood over the bodies of their dead dogs asking ‘Why?’ – and nobody telling them.” Catherine O'Driscoll.
Catherine O’Driscoll - Forever Young
1st December 1956 – 12th November 2020.
1st December 1956 – 12th November 2020.
You Are My Love by Rob Ellis
About You by Rob Ellis
Tributes
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Catherine O'Driscoll Memorial Fund
https://www.gofundme.com/f/catherine-o039driscoll-memorial?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1 |
Funeral