Merry Christmas from all at the GSPCA, opening times and advice on how to keep your pets safe

Christmas is a wonderful time of year – but not always for your pets!

Every year the GSPCA has reported incidents of pets putting their safety at risk.

Here are some tips from the GSPCA to keep your pets safe. Please keep them away from -

Alcoholic beverages

Chocolate (highly toxic to pets)

Coffee

Mouldy or spoiled foods (please ensure all waste is disposed of and stored safely away from your pets)

Salt

Chicken or Turkey bones (as they can splinter)

Avoid giving your pet any of your leftovers as this can cause diarrhoea. Also keep your pet away from cooked bones: they can easily splinter or get lodged in your pet’s throat and can cause serious damage by puncturing the intestinal tract.

We all love a real Christmas tree but fallen tree needles are very sharp and can easily get stuck in your pet’s paws or throat. Sweep tree needles up regularly or fence off your Christmas tree to separate your pet and tree.

Do not hang your chocolates from your Christmas tree: they are highly toxic and your pet will be tempted if he can see and smell them.  Also those wrapped selection boxes for a dog are very tempting as even wrapped they can smell them inside.

Cover up electric wires and flashing tree lights so your pet can’t chew them and electrocute himself.

Try using fairy lights that don’t flash as some pets when up close can get very scared by these.

Christmas tree decorations can cause a nasty accident and even be fatal to your pet. Cats, and young pets especially, will show a great interest in decorations hanging from your tree. Try to use unbreakable decorations and nothing too small. Avoid tinsel or ribbons as these are dangerous to the gastrointestinal tract if your pet swallows them.

Christmas trees need to be well anchored so your pet can’t pull it over.  Cats love to climb inside if given the chance and can cause a number of risks.

Holly, mistletoe, lilies and yew trees are poisonous to pets and must be kept well out of reach.

Remember loud noises will panic your pet, such as Christmas crackers, poppers, balloons, and champagne bottles.  Adaptil and feliway products can help reduce stress in your dogs and cats, please speak to the GSPCA or your vet for more details.

Remove your Christmas wrapping paper (and toys) from the floor to avoid your pet chewing or swallowing it.

For your pet’s safety this Christmas always buy your pet’s presents from a reputable pet shop or veterinary clinic.  The GSPCA Charity Shop in Smith Street and our shop at the Shelter are ideal locations for advice and a lovely selection.

For peace of mind please check your local veterinary surgery’s opening hours over the Christmas period and have their phone number to hand just in case you need it.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Most pet related Christmas dangers are easily avoided and at the GSPCA we want all to fun and remember to be pet safe!”

“We do stop most rehoming over Christmas as we don’t want to promote pets being given as presents with each animal and home being unique we consider each on a case by case basis.”

“For example we have lots of fish in need of a home which in the right home we would possibly be fine but a nervous dog going to a home where lots of parties are planned would not be ideal.”

“At the GSPCA we want to wish all our supporters a very Merry Christmas.”

From all at the GSPCA we wish you and your pets a very Merry Christmas!

With over 300 animals in our care and the team working around the clock over the festive period your donation to the GSPCA could help animals such as the seal pups to the many hedgehogs in our care, cockerels to a snake.

Here just some of the ways you can help us help hundreds of animals this Christmas –

To donate to the animals at the GSPCA please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal

If you join and become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor or give as a gift to a loved one you can be part of something special and receive some great gifts which include -

A Christmas GSPCA Pin Badge

A Christmas card from the animals at the GSPCA

A free GSPCA t-shirt or polo shirt for those donating £5 a month or more (children's sizes available)

Or a free GSPCA hoodie or sweat shirt for those donating £10 a month or more (children's sizes available)

A plaque on the GSPCA Angel pen Pal Sponsor Board

A Certificate

A Car Sticker

To help make a real difference and to become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor please click this link to download a form http://gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20Christmas%20special%202017%20new.pdf -

To download a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form please click here http://gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf 

To see our main Wish List on our website please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list

To see some of the animals in need of homes please visit – www.gspca.org.gg/animals

For more information on our welfare work please visit – www.gspca.org.gg/about/animal-welfare

To see our opening hours please visit – www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-opening-visiting-times

Our reception and shop area is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm normally but below are our festive opening times.

Festive Opening Times at the GSPCA & Guided Tours

Please remember that in the case of an emergency, sick, injured or stray animal(s) please call 01481 257261 and choose the 24 hour emergency option.

The times are below for reception when you can pop in and buy everything from your Christmas GSPCA goodies to pets presents from the GSPCA Animal Shelter. The GSPCA want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Steve continued “There are many ways you can help support our vital 24/7 work and donate or raise funds for the hundreds of animals in our care.”

“With over 100 hedgehogs, 6 seal pups, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, fish, reptiles and many birds we help over 3000 animals through the doors every year.”

“If you would like to support our Amazon Wish List and see lists of items that we use every day and things that we are appealing for.”

“If would like to help with wish list items you can call us on 01481 25721 or email [email protected] or the easy way to see many items we are in need  is by going to our Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList .”

“We do promote buying items locally but shopping online can help raise funds at the same time as if you select the GSPCA through easy fund raising part of the amount through 1000’s of online retailers comes back to the GSPCA and it has raised over £2500.”

“To sign up to do this please visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/guernseyspca/?u=1CHID8 .”

“Sadly Amazon Smile doesn’t allow Guernsey charities to sign up but you can go through easy fund raising to achieve the same donation.”

“As mentioned you can always chose to donate via local stores and the Amazon Wish List is a shop front showing some of the items we need but there are many others and we have published these on our Wish List page http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”

“A gift of a tiny bowl costing less than a £1 to a £600 intensive care unit, every donation is hugely appreciated and really makes the team smile that there are those that care and want to support our work.”

“Another amazing way to support our work is by just a couple of pounds each month can make a massive difference in helping the animals in our care and to find out more please go to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .”

“To make a donation you can go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) .”  

“We couldn’t do so much without your support.”

Donate

Donate by calling  01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or online https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal

Sponsored Event

Why not create your own sponsored event or challenge - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)

For lots more ideas why not visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising

Wish List

Check out our wish list page from the smallest of items to our biggest of projects there are many ways to support us - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list

To visit our Amazon Wish list to see some of the items we need to help the wildlife please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList

Legacies & Bequests

By leaving a gift to the GSPCA in your Will really helps us to improve the lives of animals into the future.  After providing for those you care for, please consider leaving a proportion of what remains to the GSPCA it is so appreciated and makes a real lasting legacy.

A gift like this to the GSPCA ensures our animals and those in Guernsey will always have someone to keep them safe. To find out more please http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/gifts-wills-and-funding 

Gift Aid on Donations over £500

To find out about the States of Guernsey tax relief information on gift aid up to 2020 on donations totalling between £500 and £5000 please see the details by going to https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2617&p=0

2021 gift aid is from £500 and up to £7500 and here are the details - https://www.gov.gg/article/151830/Income-tax-relief

To download the form to claim for 2020 or before please follow this link https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1994&p=0

Become a sponsor and GSPCA member

Why become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor and support our work each month please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf

To become a Corporate Angel Pen Pal form for your business to sponsor animals in our care each year please click here http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Corporate%20Angel%20Pen%20Pal%20sponsor%20formnew.pdf  

Share our posts and follow us on social media

Many of you will have seen us on social media and your support liking and sharing our posts is really appreciated, and to visit our social media pages please go to

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GuernseySPCA

Twitter https://twitter.com/GSPCA

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gspca-guernsey-965b0751/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gspca_guernsey/

Subscribe to our Supporters Newsletter

To subscribe to our supporters newsletter and find out about upcoming events and news please go to https://us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9324335c87c8b3ec9f0016f2a&id=e61c951a08

In line with States of Guernsey advice please DO NOT visit the GSPCA if have been outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in line with their advice or have any symptoms of Coronavirus and we continue visits to the Shelter for only essential reasons and to please call us on 01481 257261 or email [email protected] before your trip to see if we can help without you coming to the Shelter. For the latest information and advice please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/search/node/coronavirus

With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations please help us help animals in Guernsey with our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by donating online via - https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal