Next week is GSPCA Purple Week and are you running a purple fund raiser?
Submitted by Steve on 15:21, 4th Feb, 2016 |
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The GSPCA was founded in 1873 and to help celebrate 143 years caring for animals in Guernsey we are asking for your help.
There are many ways you, your school, group, work place, business can help celebrate.
The GSPCA week starts 8th February and celebrations will carry on until the 14th with our anniversary being Valentines Day the 14th February.
Ideas to get involved.......
Why not wear purple for the day? The GSPCA logo is purple and we are encouraging people to wear purple for a day or more during this week from purple ties to GSPCA wrist bands, pin badges, or maybe you have a better idea?
A Mufti or Dress Down Day is a great and fun way to raise funds to help animals in Guernsey and celebrate our 143rd anniversary.
How about a 'Take Your Dog to Work Day' although normally this is celebrated in the summer why not hold a day at your work place early.
Maybe you would like a tombola set for your work place? We can arrange a ticketed tombola with prizes to help raise funds for the animals in our care.
Dress as an animal for the day? Its fun and a great way to celebrate the fact that the GSPCA help 1000's of animals and birds every year.
FACT - Did you know the Shelter has cared for two lion cubs and two monkeys in the last few years and currently has a seal pup on site?
A sponsored event? From a sponsored silence to a wax, stop smoking to a dog walk there are many ways you can raise funds to help animals in Guernsey. To download a sponsor form please
FACT - Did you know the GSPCA has 200 - 300 animals in their care at any one time?
Sell goods for the GSPCA? The GSPCA has a number of new GSPCA goods on sale including pens, pin badges, wrist bands, car stickers and small toy dogs which we can provide in a counter box to help raise funds for the Animal Shelter.
To apply for these or the other items please download a form on this link
FACT - Did you know that in 1919 the first home for stray dogs and cats was at 11 St John Street, St Peter Port. 5/- (five shillings) a week was paid to the tenant for housing the kennels and looking after the animals?
A collection box / wishing well? The GSPCA are always looking for businesses and places to locate collection boxes around the Island. By clicking the above link or emailing[email protected] you can apply for one to help raise funds for the GSPCA. Also if you have a bigger premises maybe you could accommodate one of our GSPCA Wishing Wells. The first of these can be seen at the Shelter which are made on site and are a fantastic way to highlight the need of raising funds for the GSPCA and that your business supports our work caring for animals in Guernsey.
FACT - Did you know in October 1929 the GSPCA purchased its present site at Les Fiers Moutons, St Andrews. The house, outbuildings and ¾ vergee of land were bought freehold for £400.00 plus a further 2 vergees of land for £120.00 and an extra £5.00 included the spring and well?
There are many ways you can join the GSPCA Purple Week - Celebrating 143 years Caring for Animals in Guernsey between Monday 8th February and Sunday 14th February.
We have a number of events taking place during the GSPCA Purple Week.
On Tuesday 9th February at 630pm we are holding a bingo night, more details are below
Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said "In 2016 the GSPCA will have been helping animals in Guernsey for 143 years and we are asking animal lovers to help join in and celebrate with us."
'We are looking at holding a number of events during the week and if anyone has any other ideas please let us know.'
"It costs over £600,000 a year to help care for the 1000's of animals and birds we have through our doors, provide the 24 hour 7 day a week emergency service for animals, the welfare work, dog training, education and more and we are appealing for people, schools and businesses to get involved to celebrate the wonderful work we have done and have to do for the future."
"With rising costs and the biggest ever rebuild project last year we hope that Guernsey will wear purple for animals and join in our birthday fun in February."
"Our New Build project replaced 5 old structures and if you or your business would like to join our Build Partner scheme please give me a call on 257261 or email me at the GSPCA."
"We will be holding a number events and details are on our website."
To register your event or involvement please email [email protected] or call 01481 257261
8 days on and Bonnie the seal pup is doing better than we could have hoped http://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/10-days-and-bonnie-seal-pup-doing-better-we-could-have-hoped
The grey seal (Halichoerus grypus, meaning "hooked-nosed sea pig") is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. It is a large seal of the family Phocidae or "true seals". It is the only species classified in the genus Halichoerus. Its name is spelled gray seal in the US; it is also known as Atlantic grey seal and the horsehead seal
Grey seal adults may be up to 2.5 metres in length and weigh up to 250kg, with males tending to be larger than females.
Previous seal pups rescued Jethou Bumblebee was 17kg on entry and Hanois 20kg, Eden 18kg and Trinity 15kg which was less than half the 40kg they should have been for their age with Bonnie only 14kg.
Male grey seals reach sexual maturity at 6 years, Females at 3 to 5 years and the latter give birth to their pups in the Autumn and early Winter.
Typically the first British pups are born off the Scillies and Cornwall in August and September and the time of pupping is progressively later as you move clockwise around the British Isles, the latest pups being born off the east coast of Scotland in late December.
All seal pups rescued locally were born early November to late December.
At, birth, grey seal pups weigh about 13 kg. and are covered in long, creamy white hair. A bond is formed between mother and pup at birth, and a mother can recognise her pup from its call and smell. For the first 3 weeks of their lives, pups rarely swim, suckling from their mothers 5 to 6 times a day, for up to 10 minutes at a time. The mothers milk is rich in fat and the pups rapidly put on weight.
The seal pups rescued have all been around two to three weeks when they were brought into the GSPCA.
The mother tends to remain just offshore between suckling bouts and rarely feeds, losing up to a quarter of her body weight before her pup is weaned.
Grey seal pups are weaned after losing their baby coat at 3 to 4 weeks of age. At this point, they weigh 40 to 50 kg; three times their birth weight.
The pups live off these fat reserves whilst learning to feed, which may take several weeks.
The adult females which are called cows become fertile soon after weaning their pups, mating with the adult males which are called bulls, who hold territories during the breeding season and may mate with over half a dozen cows.
Mating can take place on land or in water and pregnancy last for 11.5 months, there being a period of 3.5 months when the fertilised embryo does not attached to the wall of the uterus and its development is arrested ("delayed implantation"). As a result, pups are born at the same time each year.
Grey seals moult annually in the spring, 3 to 5 months, after the end of the breeding season.
In the wild, males may live for about 25 years, females for about 35 years.
We will of course keep you up to date with Bonnie's progress and keep your eyes open for pictures and videos.
If anyone see's a pup with or without a mum we really do appreciate a call so that we are aware of its location and condition but here is some advice.
A healthy pup looks like a big, stuffed maggot without a neck. However, a thin pup looks sleek (but not bony) and has a visible neck, like a healthy dog.
PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE SEAL. They can give a nasty bite, which will become infected by bacteria that live in a seal’s mouths.
Note: Do not allow dogs or other animals to harass a seal.
If a Seal is scared back into the water, it could then be washed out to sea by strong currents and be lost. You should not put a seal pup back in the sea as it may get into difficulty.
If a Seal pup is sick, thin or injured then we would ask you to contact the GSPCA immediately on 01481 257261 day or night
When reporting an injured, sick or abandoned seal to the GSPCA, please make sure you are able to supply the following information:
Exact location; nearest town / village
Position on the beach, and state of the tide
How long you have observed the pup; any disturbance / risk to it; whether the mother has been seen
Any wounds / obvious signs of illness
Length/colour/condition.
Caution:- Handling of any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous. Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Common sense should be applied in all instances and, if unsure, seek additional advice or assistance. Personal hygiene should be taken into consideration after handling any animal, whether it’s domestic, wild, dead or alive.
To see some of the previous stories follow the links below
Extremely sick and weak Grey Seal Pup rescued at Corbier now at the GSPCAhttp://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/extremely-sick-and-weak-grey-seal-pup-rescued-corbier-now-gspca
Happy Birthday Ella Gidney - a special behind the scenes at the GSPCA as a birthday treathttp://www.gspca.org.gg/blog/happy-birthday-ella-gidney-special-behind-scenes-gspca-birthday-treat
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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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