GSPCA Celebrates 153 Years With #GSPCAPurpleWeek: Honouring Our History, Our Animals, and Our Future
Today marks an incredible milestone as the GSPCA celebrates 153 years of caring for animals and supporting our community. As we launch #GSPCAPurpleWeek, we invite everyone across Guernsey and beyond to join us in a week of celebration, reflection, fundraising, and purple‑themed fun — all to help continue the vital work we do 24/7, 365 days a year.
153 Years of Compassion
Since opening our doors in 1873, the GSPCA has stood by animals and islanders through every chapter of local history — including the hardships of the Second World War occupation, recent challenges such as the Covid‑19 pandemic, and the ongoing pressures of rising costs. Despite everything, the charity has remained a constant source of care, compassion, and community support thanks to the incredible kindness of the public.
Life‑Changing Work: A Look at Some Highlights
Over the decades — and especially in this century alone — the GSPCA has been involved in some extraordinary rescues and welfare achievements, including:
- 45 seals successfully released back into the wild, with 6 more currently in our care
- The rescue and rehabilitation of 2 loggerhead turtles and 1 green turtle
- Supporting lion cubs in need
- Taking in 25 puppies transported from Slovakia in the back of a van
- Caring for thousands of wild animals each year, from hedgehogs and birds to bats, reptiles, and more
- Responding daily to stray, abandoned, injured, sick or mistreated animals of every species imaginable
- Providing emergency help, advice, boarding, and community support around the clock
Building for the Future – #GSPCABiggestBuild
Our biggest project in generations — the #GSPCABiggestBuild — is now halfway through, transforming our site with:
- A new purpose‑built Wildlife Hospital
- Modern animal welfare facilities
- Safer, greener, more energy‑efficient buildings
- New spaces for education, volunteering, and community engagement
This once‑in‑a‑lifetime project will help us meet the demands of today and long into the future.
Quotes
Steve Byrne, GSPCA Manager, said:
“Reaching 153 years is an incredible achievement for the GSPCA and for our community. From helping animals during the occupation in the 1940s to navigating the pandemic and now battling rising costs, we have only been able to keep going because of the amazing support we receive. Every seal rescued, every wildlife patient, every pet reunited — it all happens thanks to the generosity and kindness of Islanders. #GSPCAPurpleWeek is a chance to celebrate everything we have achieved together and to help us continue our lifesaving work 24/7, 365 days a year.”
GSPCA and local Vet, John Knight, added:
“The GSPCA plays an essential role in the welfare of animals in Guernsey, not just for pets but for wildlife and emergency cases that require urgent veterinary intervention. Over the years I’ve worked closely with the team on many unique and challenging rescues — from seals to turtles to highly vulnerable patients. Their dedication is exceptional, and supporting them helps ensure we can continue providing the best care possible for all creatures great and small.”
How You Can Support #GSPCAPurpleWeek and Celebrate 153 Years
There are lots of ways to get involved and support the work we do:
- Go Purple! Wear purple, decorate your workplace or school, or organise a purple‑themed fundraiser
- Donate to help us care for the hundreds of animals currently relying on us
- Join the Buy a Brick campaign to support the #GSPCABiggestBuild
- Become a member, sponsor an animal, or join our Angel Pen Pal scheme
- Volunteer your time — whether for events, animal care, gardening, fundraising or fostering
- Hold a bake sale, dress‑down day or workplace challenge
- Share our posts on social media to spread awareness
Every penny, every hour, every act of kindness helps us continue our lifesaving work.
A Huge Thank You
As we celebrate 153 years, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us — our volunteers, donors, staff, vets, corporate partners, and the entire Guernsey community. Your compassion makes everything possible.
To see our youtube channel please visit https://www.youtube.com/@TheGuernseySPCA
To see events, ways to support and animals in need please see our latest blog https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog
Upcoming events
- GSPCA Purple Week 13th February to Friday 20th February 2026 https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-purple-week
- GSPCA Celebrates 153 years Saturday 14th February 2026
- Love Your Pet Day Friday 20th February 2026
- Half Term Tours February 2026 To be confirmed
- World Wildlife Day 3rd March 2026
- International Day of the Seal 22nd March 2026
- National Puppy Day 23rd March 2026
- Easter Tours March/April 2026 To be confirmed
- National Ferret Day 2nd April 2026
- Dog First Aid Course 6.30pm - 8.45pm Wednesday 15th April 2026 Ref – Dog15/04
- EDABL Seafront Sunday 26th April 2026
- Cat First Aid Course 6.30pm - 8.45pm Wednesday 29th April 2026 Ref – Cat29/04
- Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday 3rd May 2026
- Charities Seafront Sunday 17th May 2026
- GSPCA Cupcake Week 15th to 22nd May 2026
- Half Term Tours May 2026 May 2026 To be confirmed
- Microchip Month June 2026
- Volunteers Week 1st – 7th June 2026
- Guernsey Together Saturday 13th June 2026
- EDABL Seafront Sunday 21st June 2026
- Take Your Dog to Work Day Friday 26th June 2026
- Kitten Day 10th July 2026
- World Snake Day 16th July 2026
- Guinea Pig Appreciation Day 16th July 2026
- EDABL Seafront Sunday 19th July 2026
- Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) 23rd – 27th July 2026
- Summer Guided Tours July/August 2026 to be confirmed
- South Show GSPCA Dog Show Saturday 8th August 2026
- West Show 12th-13th August 2026
- World Lizard Day 14th August 2026
- North Show 19th-20th August 2026
- International Dog Day 26th August 2026
- EDABL Seafront Sunday 30th August 2026
- World Animal Month October 2026
- World Animal Day 4th October 2026
- Feral Cat Day 16th October 2026
- National cat Day 29th October 2026
- Halt Term Spooky Tours October 2026 to be confirmed
- Dog First Aid Course 6.30pm - 8.45pm Thursday 12th November 2026 Ref – Dog12/11
- Cat First Aid Course 6.30pm - 8.45pm Thursday 26th November 2026 Ref – Cat26/11
- Possible Christmas Themed Animal Discovery Trail November/December 2026 to be confirmed with possible Ball
- World Wildlife Conservation Day 4th December 2026
- Festive Tours December/January 2026/7 to be confirmed
Steve continued “There are many ways to support the work of the GSPCA.”
“Our BIGGEST BUILD is now underway and we are desperately looking for support and to help in anyway please do get in touch and check out this link https://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/gspca-biggestbuild-begins-demolition-underway-%E2%80%93-buying-brick-sponsorship-can-you-help .”
“To become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor donating each month to help the hundreds of animals in our care which you can do by downloading this form - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf or 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 .”
“To think of helping animals and our work in your legacy or will please check out https://www.gspca.org.gg/about/gifts-wills-and-funding .”
“For those from those want to give CSR time and skills to those wanting to help sponsor or support something from our Wish List at the GSPCA http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”
“If your group or business would like to find out about spending a day at the Shelter please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/corporate-and-group-days “
“For other ways your business can help us here at the GSPCA please go to -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/how-your-business-can-help-gspca-corporate-sponsorship “
“If you would like to volunteer then to find out more details here -
http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/volunteers or to complete the volunteer application form please check out https://service.sheltermanager.com/asmservice?account=gspca&method=online_form_html&formid=14 .”
"We also have vacancies at the GSPCA and to find out more please visit https://www.gspca.org.gg/about/vacancies ."
"For lots of ways to support our work please visit https://www.gspca.org.gg/page/gspca-celebrating-150-years ."
“To visit our facebook page check out this link please click here .”
“To visit our x page please click here .”
“Thank you for your support.”
Post new comment