Tomorrow a team from GSPCA are being flown to receive the prestigious Ceva Animal Welfare Special Recognition Award - watch live

Following the most successful round of nominations to date, Ceva Animal Health revealed its shortlist for its seventh annual Ceva Animal Welfare Awards earlier this year.

Tomorrow the finals take place and finalists and guests are traveling from around the world to attend this spectacular evening.

Spanning seven categories, the shortlist for each award was decided following a day of deliberations by a panel of esteemed judges chaired by retired veterinary surgeon, Chris Laurence MBE MRCVS.  Chris is the chairman of the Animal Welfare Foundation and BVBA (British Veterinary Behaviour Association) and before retiring was chief veterinary officer at the RSPCA and veterinary director of Dogs Trust. He is also involved in a number of charities and is a trustee of the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Foundation.

The awards celebrate 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.  Nominations were submitted by friends, family, clients and colleagues.

The finalists have been chosen and for those in each category will find out if they have won tomorrow evening.

Saying this there is no wait for the GSPCA as we have been informed that although we were nominated the judges decided to recognise the work carried out here in Guernsey in a very special way.

The judges have decided that for 2017 for the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards they are presenting the GSPCA with a Special Recognition Award which has only been given on a handful of occasions to outstanding organisations for their contributions to animal welfare.

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager said “This is without doubt one of the most humbling of achievements that could be bestowed upon the GSPCA and tomorrow at the Ceva Animal Welfare Awards the work carried out here in Guernsey will be show cased on the International stage and recognised in a way never seen before.”

“We have an amazing team at the GSPCA that work 24/7 made of staff and volunteers as a family that strive to do our very best 365 days a year.”

“I honestly cannot think of a more prestigious example of an award that can be given to any animal welfare organisation and at the Shelter we were all shocked that the 2017 Ceva Animal Welfare Special Recognition Award is to be presented to the GSPCA tomorrow.”

“To have been awarded the Guernsey Community Foundation Charity of the Year Award in November was a real shock but to be recognised on such an international stage is truly the most humbling achievements in our 144 year history at the GSPCA.”

“It has been an unbelievable year for the GSPCA from the 25 Slovakian puppies to Olivia the turtle, the many seal pups to the strays and unwanted pets we help every day, the wildlife to the community we help and serve it is wonderful that the judges for these awards thought our team on the stunning island of Guernsey was deserving and from all of us to them thank you we really cannot believe it when there are so many amazing organisations doing so much around the world.”

"We are hugely grateful to Cava for this wonderful award and John, Yvonne, Anna, Geoff and I are all extremely excitied to be invited and taken over to Birmingham for this amazing evening and such a phenomenal award."

"You will be able to see the evening stremed live by visiting their youtube page or visiting http://www.cevawelfareawards.com/."

Chair of the judging panel, Chris Laurence, said “Judging gets more difficult each year as we receive more nominations and they get even more impressive.” 

“It is humbling to witness the huge number of people who give their lives to animal welfare to the detriment of better paid jobs or simply going out and enjoying themselves.”

All finalists and a number of the team at the GSPCA have been invited to attend the glitzy award ceremony in Birmingham, on Wednesday 5th April where the winner of each award will be announced and this will be shown live http://www.cevawelfareawards.com/

Lindsay Johnson from Ceva Animal Health said “Our 'Animal Welfare Awards' each year are a celebration of the very best people committed to the cause.”

“And yet, each year, we are always humbled by the dedication of all our nominees.”

“They all go beyond what is required of them and show true passion for what they do.”

Yvonne Chauvel Senior Animal Care Assistant said “Last month we welcomed Lindsay and Mike from Ceva who flew over to film the team and animals for a video that will be shown on the awards evening tomorrow.”

“It was lovely to see them again as we met in 2015 when local vet and GSPCA President John Knight won the Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Veterinary Times and in the same year I was a finalist for the Charity Professional of the Year Award in association with PDSA.”

“Lindsay and Mike were lovely and so very kind about the work we carry out at the GSPCA and they really loved meeting many of the animals in our care.”

“Last year Ceva were extremely supportive donating and highlighting on their social media the story of Olivia the loggerhead turtle.”

“All of the team really can’t believe it and it is wonderful that Ceva have not only invited us to the evening but are also helping us get there in April.”

Anna Paint Senior Animal Care Assistant said "I haven't been to the UK for a trip for over 20 years."

"It is so amazing we are receiving this amazing award and from all at the GSPCA we are so thankful and really can't believe it."

Between the President John Knight, GSPCA Manager Steve Byrne, Animal Collection Officer Geoff George, Anna Paint and Yvonne Chauvel Senior Animal Care Assistant the 5 going over have over 70 years combined service for the GSPCA and well in excess of 100 years helping animal welfare.  Although many of the staff and volunteers aren't able to come along a celebration is being planned for later in the month and pictures and video clips will be posted after the event later this week.

 

The shortlist for the 2017 Ceva Animal Welfare Awards is as follows:

Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award in association with Veterinary Times

Andrew Gardiner from Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Richard Saunders from the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund

Jenny Stavisky from the University of Nottingham

Welfare Nurse of the Year Award in association with VN Times

Sarah Dawson from Vets4Pets in Walton Vale, Liverpool

Samantha Shand from Quarrington Veterinary Surgery in Sleaford

Ellisah Raven from Bransby Horses in Lincoln

Charity Professional of the Year Award (UK & International) – in association with PDSA

Lesley Winton, founder of the Winton Foundation for the Welfare of Bears & Fostering Compassion

Dr Stephen Blakeway, director of international operations at The Donkey Sanctuary

Ali Taylor, head of canine behaviour and training at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Charity Team of the Year Award (UK & International) - in association with Your Cat and Your Dog magazines

Mission Rabies

Mitchelson Found Animals Foundation

Dogstar Foundation, Sri Lanka

Volunteer of the Year Welfare Award (UK & International) – in association with Blue Cross

Maureen Smith from the National Animal Welfare Trust in Berkshire

Annie Blumenfeld from Wags 4 Hope, USA

Dean Bland from Well Equine in Yorkshire

Farm Animal Welfare Award (UK & International) – in association with R.A.B.I and NADIS

Dr Othieno O Joseph, a freelance veterinary journalist from Kenya

Katrine Bazeley, a retired veterinary surgeon from Dorset

Graham Duncanson, a retired veterinary surgeon from Norfolk

International Cat Care Welfare Award – in association with Agria Pet Insurance

International Cat Care will be choosing the winner of this award from its extensive membership base.  The winner will be announced at the awards’ ceremony.

In addition to the scheduled categories, the judges have granted one additional award in special recognition of a charity’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare which is the GSPCA from Guernsey.

“We are amazed by both the quantity and quality of the nominations that we have received, which detail their overwhelming passion and commitment to animal welfare,” comments Cuneyt Seckin, managing director of Ceva Animal Health. 

“We are delighted to be able to honour these individuals and organisations and champion people involved in animal welfare, while raising awareness of this important work to wider audiences.”

Steve Byrne GSPCA Manager continues “We are hugely grateful to Ceva and their wonderful team for all they do and have done for us.”

“Ceva have a wonderful range of products which we sell which help reduce stress in dogs and cats.”

“As well as helping when we were fund raising to get Olivia the loggerhead turtle to Gran Canaria Ceva have also helped with training for our team with their products and they have helped donate Feliway and Adaptil diffusers for the rescue pets in our care.”

“We are looking forward attending the award evening tomorrow and will keep all up to date how it goes.”

Winners will be revealed and along with the GSPCA will be presented with their awards during a glitzy ceremony held in Birmingham ahead of BSAVA Congress on 5th April 2017. 

To find out more about the awards visit www.cevawelfareawards.com. 

 

To donate to the many animals in our care please visit

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

Nominating a group for The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, please visit - https://qavs.direct.gov.uk

Could you write us a review on the Best of Guernsey who run awards each year, if you could please visit - https://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/guernsey/business-guide/feature/gspca

To donate via giving.gg to help animals at the GSPCA please click here

 

 

Create your own user feedback survey

To see all of our events, links and fund raisers please click here

If you would like to fund raise or help the GSPCA please contact the GSPCA on 01481 257261 or email [email protected]

To complete our local Guernsey microchip survey -

Create your own user feedback survey

To see all of our events, links and fund raisers please click here

To find out about our Build Partner programme please click here

To find out how to volunteer for the GSPCA please click here

To find out about guided tours at the GSPCA please click here

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.

Have you liked us on facebook yet or joined us on twitter?

Here is the latest from the GSPCA Twitter feed -

Tweets by @GSPCA

To see a page full of items on our GSPCA Wish List please click here.

To donate online to help the GSPCA please visit - https://giving.gg/donate/charity/2/Guernsey-Society-for-the-Prevention-of-Cruelty-to-A