The GSPCA are urging bird owners to protect their pets and flocks.
With growing numbers of cases of H5N1 avian influenza throughout the UK their Animal & Plant Department Agency have been sending out notifications of new cases in both wild and domestic birds with the most recent case in Chirk, Wrexham.
Recently the States of Guernsey States Vets sent these details to poultry owners -
‘We have recently be made aware of an outbreak of bird flu in the UK. We are not surprised to receive this news given the time of year but wanted to provide you with some information to assist with protecting your birds from contracting the virus.
Details of the outbreak in the UK can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-identified-at-a-wildbird-rescue-centre-in-worcestershire?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_source=d60f4f53-9c54-4dfc-a6ca-eb03cac14056&utm_content=immediately .
I attach (see picture) a document created by colleagues in the UK last year regarding biosecurity and how to protect your birds. Please note that you do not need to register your birds with the UK (tip 4) but it may be of interest to sign up to their bird flu alert system.’
If you wish to receive these updates please follow the details below.
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “Sadly it seems each year at this time outbreaks of avian flu are detected and at the GSPCA we are ensuring we continue with heightened bio-security due to the large numbers of birds we help and care for.”
“It is important that we all take extra precautions in the Channel Islands to ensure our pet and farm birds are as safe as possible from bird flu.”
"We all are fully aware of the importance of bio-security due to the challenges we all face with Covid-19 and especially here at the GSPCA where we have to care for animals that can arrive with zoonotic diseases."
"Typically this form of the disease presents suddenly, often with very high mortality, with affected birds developing swollen heads, a blue colouration for those with a comb and wattles, dullness, lack of appetite, respiratory distress, diarrhoea and significant drop in egg production."
“We will of course update our website with any further alerts and the links we have online take your to the latest information available.”
The States Veterinary Officers encourage all pet/commercial poultry keepers to register with them so that they can alert keepers of any disease outbreaks or any other health or welfare concerns that may arise.
Avian influenza is a viral infection of domestic poultry and other wild birds, such as migrating waterfowl. Poultry includes chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, pigeon (bred for meat), partridge, quail, guinea fowl and pheasants.
The virus is transmitted between individual birds by eating or drinking contaminated feed/water or inhalation of the virus. It can also be spread through the introduction of diseased birds to the flock or poor biosecurity of poultry keepers, such as a lack of cleaning and disinfection and poor pest control.
It is a notifiable animal disease, meaning that if you suspect any signs of avian influenza in poultry or wild birds, you must contact the States Veterinary Officers (email: [email protected], tel: 01481 221161).
More information on how poultry keepers can keep their poultry safe and what symptoms to look out for can be found here https://gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=135242&p=0 .
To be notified by the States Veterinary Officers in the event of disease outbreaks or other health and welfare concerns which may affect poultry, keepers can register by emailing [email protected] or calling 235740 and providing the following information:
- Name
- Address
- Contact details (phone number, email address)
- Type of birds kept
- Number of birds kept
- Location of poultry are located (if different to home address)
Details on how this data will be processed can be found here https://gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=131032&p=0 .
At the GSPCA we echo the good practice and advice from the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer for bird keepers:
- Ensure the areas where birds are kept are unattractive to wild birds, for example by netting ponds, and by removing wild bird food sources;
- Feed and water your birds in enclosed areas to discourage wild birds;
- Minimise movement in and out of bird enclosures;
- Clean and disinfect footwear and keep areas where birds live clean and tidy;
- Reduce any existing contamination by cleansing and disinfecting concrete areas, and fencing off wet or boggy areas.
Poultry keepers and members of the public with concerns should contact the States Veterinary Officer by calling 01481 257261 email [email protected]
Further avian influenza advice, including how to spot the disease, is available:-
In England at www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
In Scotland at www.gov.scot/avianinfluenza
In Wales at http://gov.wales/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/disease/avianflu/?lang=en
In Guernsey at https://www.gov.gg/article/162975/Search-Whole-Site?q=avian&size=10#top
Guernsey States Vet facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/StatesVet
Steve continued “There are many ways you can help support our vital 24/7 work and donate or raise funds for the hundreds of animals in our care.”
“With over 100 hedgehogs, 3 seal pups, dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, fish, reptiles and many birds we help over 3000 animals through the doors every year.”
“If you would like to support our Amazon Wish List and see lists of items that we use every day and things that we are appealing for.”
“If would like to help with wish list items you can call us on 01481 25721 or email [email protected] or the easy way to see many items we are in need is by going to our Amazon Wish List https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList .”
“We do promote buying items locally but shopping online can help raise funds at the same time as if you select the GSPCA through easy fund raising part of the amount through 1000’s of online retailers comes back to the GSPCA and it has raised over £2500.”
“To sign up to do this please visit http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/guernseyspca/?u=1CHID8 .”
“Sadly Amazon Smile doesn’t allow Guernsey charities to sign up but you can go through easy fund raising to achieve the same donation.”
“As mentioned you can always chose to donate via local stores and the Amazon Wish List is a shop front showing some of the items we need but there are many others and we have published these on our Wish List page http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list .”
“A gift of a tiny bowl costing less than a £1 to a £600 intensive care unit, every donation is hugely appreciated and really makes the team smile that there are those that care and want to support our work.”
“Another amazing way to support our work is by just a couple of pounds each month can make a massive difference in helping the animals in our care and to find out more please go to http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf .”
“To make a donation you can go to https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA) .”
“We couldn’t do so much without your support.”
Donate
Donate by calling 01481 257261, by post to GSPCA, Rue des Truchots, St Andrews, Guernsey GY6 8UD or online https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal
Sponsored Event
Why not create your own sponsored event or challenge - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-Animals-(GSPCA)
For lots more ideas why not visit our fundraising page www.gspca.org.gg/fundraising
Wish List
Check out our wish list page from the smallest of items to our biggest of projects there are many ways to support us - http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/our-plans-wish-list
To visit our Amazon Wish list to see some of the items we need to help the wildlife please visit - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/25MJPPDAGXHL1?type=WishList
Legacies & Bequests
By leaving a gift to the GSPCA in your Will really helps us to improve the lives of animals into the future. After providing for those you care for, please consider leaving a proportion of what remains to the GSPCA it is so appreciated and makes a real lasting legacy.
A gift like this to the GSPCA ensures our animals and those in Guernsey will always have someone to keep them safe. To find out more please http://www.gspca.org.gg/about/gifts-wills-and-funding
Gift Aid on Donations over £500
To find out about the States of Guernsey tax relief information on gift aid up to 2020 on donations totalling between £500 and £5000 please see the details by going to https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2617&p=0
2021 gift aid is from £500 and up to £7500 and here are the details - https://www.gov.gg/article/151830/Income-tax-relief
To download the form to claim for 2020 or before please follow this link https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1994&p=0
Become a sponsor and GSPCA member
Why become an Angel Pen Pal Sponsor and support our work each month please visit - http://www.gspca.org.gg/sites/default/files/Angel%20sponsor%20form%20special%202018%20new.pdf
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
Share our posts and follow us on social media
Many of you will have seen us on social media and your support liking and sharing our posts is really appreciated, and to visit our social media pages please go to
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GuernseySPCA
Twitter https://twitter.com/GSPCA
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gspca-guernsey-965b0751/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gspca_guernsey/
Subscribe to our Supporters Newsletter
To subscribe to our supporters newsletter and find out about upcoming events and news please go to https://us14.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=9324335c87c8b3ec9f0016f2a&id=e61c951a08
In line with States of Guernsey advice please DO NOT visit the GSPCA if have been outside of the Bailiwick of Guernsey in line with their advice or have any symptoms of Coronavirus and we continue visits to the Shelter for only essential reasons and to please call us on 01481 257261 or email [email protected] before your trip to see if we can help without you coming to the Shelter. For the latest information and advice please visit http://www.gspca.org.gg/search/node/coronavirus
With huge challenges on our resources and a drop in income from boarding and donations please help us help animals in Guernsey with our #GSPCACoronavirusCrisisAppeal by donating online via - https://giving.gg/donate/event/5876/GSPCA-Coronavirus-Emergency-Appeal
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