5 New Volunteers join the GSPCA - next induction Wednesday 26th July 3pm
Submitted by Steve on 22:01, 19th Jul, 2016 |
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Monday afternoon the GSPCA greeted 5 new faces wanting to help out at the Animal Shelter and 24/7 work that is carried out.
Those present were interested in helping with dog walking to reception, cat pen cleaning to helping with the wildlife, fund raising to volunteering to gain experience for their CV and some to help gain life skills.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager greeted the group and gave a presentation and talk about the work we carry out 24 hours 7 days a week, the differing volunteer roles and how to work safely at the GSPCA Shelter and our events.
After a 90 minute talk each of the group had a chance to talk to Steve about what they'd like to do and a date was set for them to come in.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "We hold Volunteer Inductions every month at the GSPCA and it is wonderful how we always have such a great attendance."
"On Monday I welcomed 5 new volunteers each wanting to help it different ways and the first started this morning."
"We have over 100 active volunteers every week and over 600 each year, which is about 1% of the Guernsey population."
"Our next Volunteer Induction is at 3pm on Wednesday 26th July and we have many more planned through the year."
"We couldn't help the thousands of animals that come through our doors at the GSPCA without our fantastic volunteers and great team."
"We look forward to the the new volunteers Jasmine, Mim, Aaron, Annie and Nathan starting over the next few weeks and thank them all for wanting to help us make a real difference to animals lives in Guernsey."
Currently at the GSPCA we are looking for volunteers to help in some specific areas including -
Fund raising and helping at stalls and many events
Volunteers to help with our flag day on Saturday 20th August
Volunteers to help with the Seafront Sundays, Shows and other events
Volunteer gardeners to help around site with St Andrews Floral Group
NIGHT VOLUNTEERING - Volunteer Wardens to help provide the ambulance emergency service we provide between 6pm and 8am every night
WEEKEND VOLUNTEERING - Volunteer Wardens to help provide the ambulance emergency service we provide between 8am until 6pm on the weekend
Hedgehog Volunteers especially on the weekend
Cat volunteers to help with their cleaning and care
Volunteer receptionists to help on the front desk
If you can help with any of these roles please contact GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne on 01481 257261 or email [email protected]
We are always looking for volunteers to help at the Shelter in a variety of roles.
You need to be at least 14 years old to help at the Shelter. If you are younger then you could still help. If you talk to your parents or guardians they may help you with fund raising for the Animal Shelter.
To get started in Volunteering at the GSPCA we hold Induction Evenings and no matter your age there is always a way you can help.
If you are looking to complete your work experience, Duke of Edinburgh or similar placement it is a requirement to attend one of the sessions to arrange a start date and complete the induction.
The Volunteer Induction Evenings planned for 2015/16 will take place on the following days and times in the Event and Training Room at the GSPCA, but please do call 257261 closer to the date to confirm it is taking place.
When you arrive to attend please follow the paw prints at the front of reception which will take you to the upper floor where the sessions are held.
3pm Wednesday 27th July 2016
6.30pm Thursday 4th August 2016
6.30pm Tuesday 6th September 2016
6.30pm Tuesday 13th September 2016
6.30pm Thursday 6th October 2016
6.30pm Thursday 3rd November 2016
6.30pm Tuesday 6th December 2016
Here are some of the ways you can volunteer for the GSPCA.
Dog Walking - to find out more
Cat Socialising - for more details
Animal Accommodation Cleaner - With over 200 animals in our care there is lots of cleaning to do in the morning and through the day. Please complete a form and return it to the Shelter if you would like to help care for the animals at the Shelter.
Wildlife Volunteer - Our recent refurbished wildlife unit always has high numbers of birds and a growing number of hedgehogs that require caring for. We need volunteers to help us with this unit and if you would like to help please complete a form below and return it to the Shelter. The main part of this role is between 8am and 12pm 7 days a week and we are trying to put a rota together to help assist the wildlife staff.
Reception and helping answer calls - We are looking to build a team of volunteers to assist the reception staff in their duties to help respond to the inquiries and welfare calls.
Administration - We are a very busy Animal Welfare organisation and if you could help in the office please fill in the form below and get in touch.
Gardening & Grounds Work - We have a lovely rural site that we always need help to care for.
Maintenance & Painting - Many of our buildings have been standing for some time and need TLC.
Fostering / Hand Rearing - follow this link to see our Fostering page
Fund Raising - we are always looking for volunteers to help with our many fund raising events. If you can help please fill in an application below and return it to the Shelter. If you would like to see some of our fund raising events please
Events & Special Days - We have lots of days to help raise awareness and funds for the GSPCA.
Welfare & Microchipping Events - We are planning to arrange days to help raise awareness and help animals in Guernsey and need your help to run these days.
Van Driving & Night Wardens - We need volunteers to help both in the day and night. For more details on the Wardens please.
Volunteer Co-ordinator - We are looking for a Volunteer Co-ordinator. If you have some time on your hands, good people skills and would like to get involved recruiting and training volunteers please get in touch.
Newsletter Editor - We are also looking for someone to help with our quarterly newsletter. If you have experience in putting together newsletters and have the time then please let us know.
Sponsorship Co-ordinator - We are currently putting together a kennel, cat and animal pen sponsorship scheme. We are looking for a volunteer to help organise, promote and run this scheme to help raise the much needed funds to care for the hundreds of animals at the Shelter.
Collection Box Co-ordinator - We have collection boxes throughout Guernsey and we are looking for someone who can help ensure these are collected regularly and to help find new sites.
Education Talk Assistant - Every week staff at the Shelter talk to schools and groups about the vital work we carry out. If you are interested in helping with these please email [email protected]
Tour Guide Volunteers - At the Shelter we would like to develop a small team of volunteers that can give guided tours around the GSPCA and talk about the much needed work we carry out every day.
Refreshment / Charity Shop Volunteers - We would like to run coffee mornings at the Shelter whilst selling a selection of bric-a-brac and other donated items a couple of mornings a week. We are currently looking for volunteers to help run this to help raise funds for the Shelter.
To download a volunteer application form please and send it in if you cannot make one of the dates above -
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 £5000 raised so far we are well on 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 is now in place.
When we first rescued Olivia she was extremely weak, starving, dehydrated and close to death.
Just over four 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 and we are appealing for any donations to help fund her transport, container and care to get her to the Canary Islands."
"She is doing very well at the GSPCA and now we have the paperwork in place we are planning how to get her back where she belongs."
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 any final funds to help move her south."
"A huge thank you to everyone that has donated so far which has helped raise well over £5000 and although we have had quotes between £12500 and £35000 we are hoping to be able to transport her for less than this with final plans happening to fly her to a turtle rescue in the Canaries as we speak."
"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, Le Friquet Garden Centre 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 have had many quotes well over £12,500 up to £35,00 to transport Olivia, but with the help of some friends and Petair we are hoping it will be much less to help get this very special lady home."
"Team members led by Kip Power at the GSPCA are building a travel container for Olivia which again comes as an additional cost to meet IATA transport regulations for turtles and will likely cost around £200 if anyone would like to doante to this."
"We will have to use veterinary products and rehydration substances to help Olivia during transit as well as have a number of the team and a vet to help ensure she travels safely as she is the size of a car bonnet at 3 feet wide by 4 feet long."
"We are all very excited that we will soon have everything in palce to transport Olivia south and if anyone would like to donate to help her and the many other animals in our care there are many ways in which you can do this from phone to online.
"Thank you to everyone that has helped so far it is really appreciated."
To make a donation online please click the giving.gg, the paypal button below, call 01481 257261, by post or at the GSPCA.
If you would liek to help in anyway you can contact 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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ers to assist the reception staff in their duties to help respond to the inquiries and welfare calls.
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