Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2017 - GSPCA Awarded an amazing Special Recognition Award and then surprise the room

The winners of the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2017 were announced at a ceremony at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham last week.

The awards recognise the achievements of remarkable people from the farming, veterinary and charity industries, who go beyond the call of duty to better the lives of animals around the world including veterinary and charity professionals, researchers and volunteers.

The awards’ ceremony on 5th April was during the run up to BSAVA (British Small Animal Veterinary Association) Congress.

The GSPCA had a team of 5 that were kindly flown to the UK to attend the event for a very special reason.

Yvonne Chauvel and Anna Paint Senior Animal Care Assistants, Geoff George Animal Collection Officer, Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager and John Knight GSPCA President and Vet were invited along to represent the GSPCA.

The awards each year have had 7 categories to recognise amazing work and individuals helping animal welfare from across the world. Each include finalists with the winner announced on the evening.

Last week saw one of the rare occasions when a Special International Recognition Award was added to the awards list and was bestowed on the team at the GSPCA who were shocked, surprised and humbled when we were informed earlier this year.

The GSPCA team were hugely grateful for the wonderful recognition of the 24/7 work carried out in Guernsey especially after some major events including the 25 Slovakian puppies, Olivia the loggerhead turtle, Bonnie the seal pup, the new build, not to mention the other 3000+ animals helped each year by the 20 staff and over 700 volunteers.

The GSPCA award was the last to be given during the fantastic celebration of so many wonderful people and charities helping animals around the world.  What the room didn't know that after the GSPCA had been presented the phenomenal accolade GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne had a special award to present to the Ceva team who organise the awards each year.

Not even the GSPCA team were aware as Steve asked them to stay on the stage as he approached the mic to ask all of the Ceva team to come up on stage together for the first time in the history of the awards.

Ceva have supported the GSPCA in many ways in recent years from training staff and volunteers to donating products to help the dogs and cats at the Shelter.  They provide a range of goods which we sell at our reception shop area which help reduce stress in dogs and cats and last year were hugely helpful with Olivia the loggerhead turtle.

Ceva created videos and news which they featured on their websites and even donated towards her care and travel back to the Canary Islands.

The GSPCA are hugely grateful to the Ceva team for their support and were overjoyed to present a very special thank you to their team.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "We are all still taking it in as we can't believe that our team at the GSPCA have been recognised in such a special way on an international stage thanks to the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards."

"It was so kind for us all to be flown over to such an amazing evening celebrating amazing people from around the world."

"All of the finalists were amazing and every video shown warmed the heart to see the wonderful work that goes on at all corners of the globe."

"We were so humbled when we were informed of the award earlier this year and as we knew we would be the last in the evening to go on stage I had the thought to do something very special and kind for the Ceva team who help and support us in so many ways."

"Not even the GSPCA team knew but from the GSPCA I snuck on stage a framed thank you certificate to the Ceva team and as we were asked to sit I jumped on the mic to call all of the Ceva staff on stage to join us so all of the guests at the evening could give their team a round of applause for such a wonderful evening and supporting animal welfare in so many ways."

"I can't think of any award that could surpass this Special Recognition in the Animal Welfare World and we are so grateful to all involved for thinking that we at the GSPCA deserve such an amazing recognition."

Yvonne Chauvel Senior Animal Care Assistant at the GSPCA said "What an amazing night with so many amazing people."

"It was so emotional to see so many amazing people helping animals."

"I am so thankful for being allowed to attend such an amazing night and we really can't believe it."

Chair of the judging panel Chris Laurence, said: “Judging the huge number of nominations gets more difficult year on year as the numbers increase."

“It is stunning to see how many people give their lives to the welfare of animals and it makes us feel very humble to see the lengths to which many people go."

"The fact that we have found winners amongst so many deserving people and organisations was really hard work.”

Winners of the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2017 are:

Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Veterinary Times: Jenny Stavisky from the University of Nottingham

Welfare Nurse of the Year Award in association with VN Times: Samantha Shand from Quarrington Veterinary Surgery in Sleaford

Farm Animal Welfare Award in association with R.A.B.I and N.A.D.I.S: Katrine Bazeley, a retired veterinary surgeon from Dorset, and Graham Duncanson, a retired veterinary surgeon from Norfolk (joint winners)

Charity Professional of the Year in association with PDSA: Lesley Winton, founder of the Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears and Fostering Compassion

Charity Team of the Year in association with Your Cat Magazine and Your Dog Magazine: Dogstar Foundation, Sri Lanka

Volunteer of the Year Welfare Award in association with Blue Cross: Dean Bland from Well Equine in Yorkshire

International Cat Care Welfare Award in association with Agria Pet Insurance: Pei Su from ActAsia

The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was recognised for the role it has played in helping raise animal welfare standards with the Special Recognition Award.

Anna Paint GSPCA Senior Animal Care Assistant "This is the first time I've been on a trip to the UK on a plane in over 20 years and what a wonderful night we all had."

"It was truly wonderful and thank you to all involved."

If you missed the awards, would like to see the GSPCA go on stage and also their thanks to Ceva you can see the night that was streamed live by going to - http://www.cevawelfareawards.com/

Here are two videos and pictures from the night - 

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The GSPCA are very proud to announce that we have been awarded the Guernsey Community Foundation Charity of the Year.

There are so many amazing organisations, groups and individuals and to recognise these there are a number of upcoming awards. Could you nominate the GSPCA, one of our team or another worthy individual or cause? Please visit the links below

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