Co-op helps rescued seals

Tuesday 18 June 2019

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society has donated £1,500 to the GSPCA’s Save Our Seals campaign as the animal shelter helps more and more of the lovable (but often feisty) pups each year.

Throughout April and May this year, the Society supported the campaign by donating 5 per cent of profits made from the sale of pet food to the charity and the GSPCA is going to use those funds in its work to help rehabilitate and rehome its current resident seals.

Pictured: One of the seal pups being rehabilitated by the GSPCA. 

The GSPCA said that the £1,500 donated by the Society has already helped three rescued seal pups return to Channel Island waters and is continuing to help feed the others currently in its care.

Manager of the GSPCA, Steve Byrne said: "We want to say a huge thank you to the Co-op for running this campaign and to those islanders who have been shopping for their pet food at the Society over the last two months.

"Marty is now home in Jersey waters and Sealia and Gully were released last month off the coast of Jethou. Hannah and Mambo are close to release weight and Andrew is still not ready for the next stage.

"All of the seal pups were so close to death when rescued and without the incredible generosity from the Co-op we wouldn’t be able to care for and help so many animals here in Guernsey.

"Every penny makes a huge difference to the animals in our care and from all of the seals and us at the GSPCA, we would like to say thank you to all that helped towards this amazing donation."

The Society’s Guernsey operations manager, John Lewis said: "We were delighted to be able to support the GSPCA’s Save Our Seals campaign. As a community retailer, we aim to make a real difference to our island communities wherever we can and this campaign is a great example of that. 

"Thank you to our members for supporting the campaign. Thanks to your support we were able to donate £1,500 to this much needed campaign. We wish all the seals a speedy recovery back to full health."

Pictured top: GSPCA manager Steve Byrne (L) with Guernsey’s operations manager John Lewis (R). Pictures by Chris George.