Guernsey

Last Friday and Saturday the GSPCA joined the South Show for a sunny and fun two days in St Martins.

The Friday proved very popular with many families enjoying the bouncy castles, games and of course the Bonnie Baby competition.

The Saturday also teamed with visitors and in the afternoon the GSPCA Manager helped run the fun dog show which had over 80 entries between the 8 fun classes and saw dogs of all sizes.

Here are the results of each of the classes -

Best Puppy

1st Muirean

2nd Pixie

3rd Sebastian

Best Golden Oldie

1st Kerby

The Donkey Derby is always a lovely family day out and why not pop along to see the GSPCA and many other charity stalls this Saturday.

We are hugely grateful to the Lions Club of Guernsey that hold the annual event and we look forward joining them this weekend.

This Saturday is a busy day for the GSPCA as we not only have our stall at the Donkey Derby we also have our annual flag day taking place around Guernsey.

Last Thursday Sarah Ozanne greeted 6 new volunteers that attended the GSPCA Volunteer Induction Evening.

The volunteers all arrived for 6.30pm and were shown to the training room where Sarah spoke to them about the work we carry out at the GSPCA, the volunteering roles and how to help safely at the Shelter and our events.

At the end of the evening Sarah spoke to each of them and found out what they were interested in doing from their Duke of Edinburgh to volunteering and helping with animals in our care.

On Wednesday the GSPCA welcomed 8 Voluntourists from the Crystal Symphony.

The 7 ladies and one gentleman that helped out were Eleanor Teare, Jessica Madeca, Barb Jones, Eileen Kaminsky, Sara Macefield, Geoff Ford, Dani Ford & Holly Ford all of which greeted on their arrival by GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne just after 9am.

From Canada, the USA and the UK the group had a short induction and were then set to help the staff and care for the many animals at the GSPCA.

For the fifth year in a row the GSPCA are attending the West Show which will be held on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th August 2016.

If you would like to help volunteer of support us we would love to see you on our stall.

If you can help please call 257261 or email stevejbyrne@gspca.org.gg

Once again our stall will be full of great games, GSPCA goods and pet products.

The GSPCA would lie to say a huge thank you and good luck to Andrew Alford who is running the Matterhorn Ultra in aid of the Shelter and animals in our care.

Here are a few words from him and the link to sponsor him online -

Andrew Alford said "So the what am I doing."

"One hungover Sunday a few months ago I decided to run a marathon, not keen on road running I thought I’d do something different and stumbled on the Matterhorn Ultra."

"Having a slightly fuzzy head I didn’t really read up on it, just entered and paid my money."

The GSPCA have run a Volunteer out of hours warden service for over 40 years and we are very proud of our amazing team that do so much to help 1000's of animals in Guernsey every year.

This role entails driving the GSPCA Ambulance and answering the emergency phone out of hours or on the weekend to respond to the varied calls that come in all times of the day and night.

From helping reunite stray dogs to catching baby birds, containing cows in the road to checking reports of injured seals you never know what a call may entail.

The GSPCA have been made aware of a number of concerns from the public regarding livestock that are on fields with or near a plant called ragwort which can cause them harm.

Recently David Chamberlain States Veterinary Officer has released some advice and we wanted to share this with you.

David Chamberlain States Veterinary Officer "Horses are grass grazing animals and preferentially eat grass."

"If little grass is available then they may start to eat other plants including noxious weeds such as ragwort."

On the weekend a dolphin was washed up into the harbour in St Peter Port. The GSPCA who aren't equipped to collect large deceased cetaceans contacted the authorities who assured the Shelter that it would be collected, but it was sadly left until Monday morning before it was moved which upset many.

The GSPCA have been in touch with the Office of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure to find out why it wasn't collected.

Here is the reply from the States on Monday 1st August 2016 -

Last weekend the GSPCA joined in with the fantastic annual Torteval Scarecrow Festival.

This is the second year we have been allowed to join this wonderful family Guernsey event which is held in high esteem by so many.

Last year the GSPCA focused their scarecrow display on Jessie the beagle who had been stray for over two months and was caught only weeks before the event.