Nyosi Game Reserve hosts prestigious 2024 Global Humanitarian Award Ceremony.

From founding Compassion-First Pet Hospitals to transforming the veterinary landscape, John Payne's legacy in animal welfare is profound. He joins a distinguished group of past recipients, including Betty White, Adrian Gardiner, Wolfgang Kiessling, and Na

Washington, D.C. May 22nd, 2024 — Today, Global Humane, the international brand of

American Humane, the United States’ first national humane organization was in South Africa to present the 2024 Global Humanitarian Award to John Payne, American Humane Board Chair, and a committed advocate in the world of animal wellness.

Mr. Payne is the founder of Compassion-First Pet Hospitals and served as President and CEO from 2014 until 2020. Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, now NVA Compassion-First, is a family of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals located throughout the United States that is dedicated to changing the veterinary landscape and elevating patient outcomes.

Only a handful of heroes have received the American Humane Global Humanitarian Medal. Previous recipients include the late actress and animal lover Betty White, co-founder of the Community Conservation Fund Africa Adrian Gardiner, world renowned conservationist Wolfgang Kiessling, and international musician Naomi Judd. 

“John Payne has proven himself to be a leading advocate for animal welfare and his steadfast support of American Humane has been invaluable to our organization,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of Global Humane. “His work and dedication have made for a better planet for all the world’s animals and helped improve the human-animal bond.”

The Global Humanitarian Award is a lifetime achievement award given in recognition of the phenomenal impact an individual has made for animals and people. This is just the second such award given in Africa as Global Humane expands its reach across the continent through the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (GH-CFA). Based in South Africa, GH-CFA is dedicated to conserving, rewilding, and safeguarding Africa's diverse ecosystems and wildlife.

“To be able to expand the reach of what we do through American Humane to other parts of the world is extremely important, said John Payne. “You cannot properly address animal welfare in just one country, you have to do it around the world and our legacy will be that we’ve gotten this movement started and will become the global leader in animal welfare around the world.”

About the Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa:

The Global Humane Conservation Fund of Africa (GH-CFA), an initiative under Global Humane, is deeply committed to the preservation and protection of Africa's wildlife and wilderness areas. As the international brand of American Humane, the oldest national animal welfare organization in the United States, Global Humane’s mission resonates with a legacy of nearly 150 years of pioneering efforts. Based in South Africa, GH-CFA focuses on conserving, rewilding, and safeguarding Africa's diverse ecosystems and wildlife. Through our strategic initiatives - Space for Species, Wildlife & Biodiversity, and Conservation for Communities - we strive to create safe habitats, enhance genetic diversity, and promote the interconnectedness of all species.

About Global Humane:

Global Humane is the international brand of American Humane, which is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane has been First to Serve™ the cause of animals and for 145 years has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in the humane movement. For more information or to support our lifesaving work, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our channel on YouTube for the latest breaking news and features about the animals with whom we share our Earth.

Media Contact: Paige Strott

 paiges@americanhumane.org