Guernsey Breaking News - Dead wet muddy insect covered cat arrives at GSPCA is revived to a fit & well dog despite a nose injury
Submitted by Steve on 10:31, 29th Jun, 2016 |
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On Monday night a very upset member of public arrived with what was believed to be a dead cat that had been found and kindly placed into a box wrapped in a blanket.
The member of public arrived out of hours and was greeted by GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne who was on night duty.
The kind individual was asked to take a seat and for details while the GSPCA Manager checked in the receiving room what was thought to be a dead cat for any identification or microchip.
As the box was opened and Steve got a closer look he realised it wasn't a cat but in fact a very muddy, wet, insect covered, cold, collapsed small dog with an injured nose.
After a full check over the dog sadly had no identification and the member of public was informed that what was thought to be a dead cat was in fact a cuddly dog hand puppet.
What started as a very sad conversation quickly turned to laughter and the GSPCA can now announce that the dog hand puppet is safe, well and washed despite his ordeal and nose injury.
He is currently sitting in the GSPCA Managers office looking out on the Animal Shelter in St Andrews.
The GSPCA are often called out to what sometimes are first to be thought to be animals, but in fact end up being something very different.
Here are a few examples -
A call to a sick seal on a beach was in fact a duvet
Also a possible dead dog on a beach was another duvet
An injured crow was a black bag
A stray pug was called in and was in fact a frog
A dead gull hanging from a fence was a carrier bag
An injured bird was a blonde wig
Someone has called in from rented accommodation where they aren't allowed pets to say they had hedgehogs in their garden and were they allowed to be there
Birds of prey often turn out to be pigeons
A hedgehog rescue once turned out to be a pine cone
A pregnant cat turned out to be a neutered male
A call for a shark in trouble was a fish
A turtle on Vazon we never thought would be a turtle, but in fact it was and is now called Olivia who we are fund raising to fly her south (please see below to donate)
Every call we receive we take very seriously and do the best we can and despite what can be some funny moments the role the team carry out is very serious and involves rescuing and caring for 1000's of animals every year.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "On Monday evening when a member of public arrived with what was said to be a dead cat your heart sinks as it is never an easy moment when we aren't able to help an animal at the GSPCA and we sadly help around 300 cats killed on the roads each year."
"What was supposed to be a dead cat was very kindly brought wrapped and placed in a box but when I went to check the animal over not only did I find it wasn't a cat I also found it wasn't dead at all!"
"The deceased cat was in fact a very wet and muddy dog and not any normal dog but a hand puppet."
"Both the finder and I were extremely relieved and where an air of sadness had been at the GSPCA it soon turned to laughter."
"There are many rescues and calls that the GSPCA are involved with every week and sometimes they aren't what we expect and this has certainly turned out to be one of the most unusual we have ever seen."
"The dog does have a missing nose, a green collar, made by the Puppet Co and is black and white in colour."
"If you or your child is missing a cuddly puppet of this description please do call us here at the GSPCA on 257261."
"Some of the calls that we get at the GSPCA we are skeptical about such as a turtle on Vazon earlier this year but when Ambulance Driver Geoff George turned up it was just that."
Geoff George Animal Collection Officer said "Every day we are called out from the GSPCA to rescue all sorts and we help 100's of animals every month."
"Not all of the animals are what we expect as I have been called out to rescue a hedgehog and it was in fact a pine cone."
"Earlier this year when I was called to Vazon for a turtle I wasn't sure at first but it was genuine and Olivia is now doing very well."
"We are fund raising for her flight and awaiting the Cites paperwork from Spain to move her to a rescue in gran Canaria."
We really need your help to get Olivia back to warmer waters.
Olivia is now ready to be flown to the Canary islands and we are currently appealing for funds to help towards the costs of her flight.
With just over £2450 raised so far we are the fifth of the way towards being able to afford the costs of her flight.
To transport a loggerhead turtle from one country to another requires Cites documents which we are in the midst of awaiting completion from the Spanish authorities.
When we first rescued Olivia she was extremely weak, starving, dehydrated and close to death.
Just over two months later and she is now swimming and eating on her own which is difficult to achieve in captivity.
The next big step for Olivia is to get her back to a warmer climate and a rescue centre with experience to finish her rehabilitation.
We have arranged a place for Olivia in the Canary Islands and we need to raise the funds and arrange a plane to help transport her back to where she belongs.
Geoff George Ambulance Driver, Marine Medic and main carer for Olivia at the GSPCA said "Olivia is eating extremely well which is is a massive step in her rehabilitation as they are so difficult to feed in captivity."
"She is strong enough to travel but not only do we need to find the funding to transport her to the Canary Islands we are awaiting the relevant documents."
"She is doing very well at the GSPCA but we are appealing for funds so that when we receive the paperwork to transport her we can get it done quickly."
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "Each day we move closer to be able to move Olivia to Gran Canaria and we are currently appealing for funds to help move her south."
"A huge thank you to everyone that has donated so far which has helped raise £2450 of at least £12500 we need to raise to cover the costs to fly her to a turtle rescue in the Canaries."
"Olivia was so weak, dehydrated and thin we were really worried for her when she first arrived, but thanks to the team at the GSPCA especially Geoff George, John Knight and the team at the Vetcare Centres, Les Van Blerk and the team at Vets 4 Pets, Spa De La Mare, Waitrose, Guernsey Reef, States Works, Guernsey Aquarium, Guernsey Builders and many others she has improved each day and is now ready for a long journey."
"Loggerhead turtles are listed as Endangered and facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources."
"In the wild they face many threats with the greatest threat being a loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests and human disturbances such as coastal lighting and housing developments that cause disorientations during the emergence of hatchlings."
"Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling and pollution. as well as incidental capture in fisheries is thought to have played a significant role in the recent population declines observed for these wonderful creatures."
"World wide the population of loggerhead turtles is estimated to only be between 40,000 and 50,000 nesting females which is less than the population of Guernsey."
"We are now desperately looking to find a plane that could help and donations towards the travel to help with costs of fuel and landing taxes."
"New Era Vets from Jersey have helped start the fund with a donation of £280 which was left after transporting the loggerhead turtle called Terri they rescued earlier this year and we are hugely grateful to them and to others that have donated towards her care."
"We are aware that costs just for fuel and landing taxes from the Channel Islands to the Canary Isles are over £12,500 so this is a huge appeal to help one very special lady."
"So far we have raised just over £2450 and need to raise a further £10000 to get this rare and beautiful animal back to where she belongs which is the costs we have been told by one very kind plane owner, although we continue to search for other options."
"If you know of a plane that could help or would like to make a donation we would love to hear from you."
"Thank you to everyone that has helped so far it is really appreciated."
To make a donation online please click the paypal button below, call 01481 257261, by post or at the GSPCA.
If you know of someone that could help with transport please call GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne 01481 257261 or email [email protected]
Common Name: Loggerhead - named for its exceptionally large head.
Scientific Name: Caretta caretta
Description: Head is very large with heavy strong jaws. Carapace is bony without ridges and has large, non-overlapping, rough scutes (scales) present with 5 lateral scute. Carapace is heart shaped. Front flippers are short and thick with 2 claws, while the rear flippers can have 2 or 3 claws. Carapace is a reddish-brown with a yellowish-brown plastron. Hatchlings have a dark-brown carapace with flippers pale brown on margins.
Size/Weight/Age: The Loggerhead measures up to 1.1 meters (3.5 ft) long when fully grown, weighing approximately 135 kilograms (300 lb) and have a lifespan of 47-67 years.
Diet: The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is omnivorous, feeding mainly on bottom dwelling invertebrates: mollusks, crustaceans, horseshoe crabs, clams, mussels, and other marine animals. Its large and powerful jaw serve as an effective tool in dismantling its prey.
Habitat: Prefer to feed in coastal bays and estuaries, as well as in the shallow water along the continental shelves of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Reproduction: Female Loggerheads, between the age of 17 to 33, will usually mate every 2 to 4 years.
Crawl Pattern: 1) Alternating comma-shaped flipper marks 2) Wavy and smoothed track center with no thin, straight, and well-defined tail-drag mark 3) No regular marking from front flippers at the margins of the track
Nesting: Female Loggerheads are known to nest from one to seven times within a nesting season (mean is about 4.1 nests per season) at intervals of approximately 12–17 days. Mean clutch size varies from about 100 to 126 along the southeastern United States coast. Incubation ranges from about 45 to 95 days, depending on incubation temperatures, but averages 55 to 60 days for most clutches.
International Status - Listed as Endangered (facing high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ( IUCN)
Threats to Survival: Fishing gear is the biggest threat to loggerheads in the open ocean. They often become entangled in longlines or gillnets. According to the 2009 status review of loggerheads by the Fisheries Service, drowning from entanglement in longline and gillnet fishing gear is the turtles’ primary threat in the North Pacific. The second greatest threat is loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances (such as coastal lighting and housing developments) that discourages nesting and interferes with the hatchlings' ability to navigate to the water's edge
To see some of the businesses that have helped please check out the links below.
To donate to the turtle or Bonnie the grey seal pup please call 01481 257261, pop along to the Animal Shelter in St Andrews, by post or by clicking the link below.
Have you got a GSPCA Hoody, Polo Shirt, Sweat Shirt or T-shirt? If not get yours by clicking here.
To find out about our Events, how to become a Member, Sponsor an Animal Pen, our Wish List, Corporate Sponsorship & Volunteering, , our New Build & Redevelopment Appeal and much more please click here.
There are many ways to support the work of the GSPCA and you can even donate online by clicking the paypal link below.
By post cheques payable to 'GSPCA' - GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey, GY6 8UD
Or by phone 01481 257261.
To find out more regarding our Angel Sponsorship Scheme please click here.
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