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It was another busy year for the GSPCA.
The charity speaks to Express about the highlights of the year, the challenges, and what the GSPCA is looking forward to in 2024.
At the GSPCA 2023 has been a truly momentous year in so many ways from celebrating 150 years to our Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday, so many seal pup releases and rescues to Barnacle Bill the loggerhead turtle. We have seen so much amazing support from the many corporates to so many from all ages and we cannot thank everyone enough. Our new Small Animal Unit is up and running and we are about to go to tender with our BIGGEST BUILD including the Wildlife Hospital Welfare and Rehoming Kennels and Ferret Unit.
The Puffin Parade the GSPCA did with Autism Guernsey was such an incredible success and the 60 puffins and all that was involved raised an amazing £140,000 shared between both charities. We had a wonderful visit last month from our Patron the Lt Governor which was fabulous as he was so keen to learn the huge diversity of our work. We have restarted Birthday Tours and Tours during the holidays which are always great fun and when you see the reactions of the visitors learning about what we do it never ceases to give you a warm glow as they are so kind in their words and support.
There have been so many other highlights, but the one that warms the heart every day is seeing the incredible work undertaken by our incredible team 24/7 and all the support we receive to help animals and our community.
2023 with the cost of living crisis has seen so many costs go up and raising the £3,000+ it costs every day to care for over 400 animals, investigating cruelty, rescue work, education, our work supporting bereaved owners and so much more has truly been a challenge not to mention the awful damage from Storm Ciaran which thankfully we prepared for so no animals in our care were harmed but there were many casualties like Barnacle Bill the loggerhead turtle.
We have an incredible team at the GSPCA and it never ceases to amaze me how with all the challenges we face we achieve so much 24/7 365 days a year. We do occasionally see horrendous cruelty to helping those in need, supporting over 1200 bereaved pet owners to the 100's strays, 1000's of sick and injured wildlife the challenges we face are diverse and never two days are ever the same and we couldn't do so much with out the incredible support from our community.
We already have a packed 2024 with the last celebrations of our 150 years some are still to be a surprise but our 150 year Ball only has a few tables left in February where we have a famous wildlife present Mike Dilger talking, a Blues Brothers tribute from the UK and many more acts, we have our 12th Animal Welfare Seafront Sunday in May which this year we are teaming up with the Guernsey Boat Show and the main thing that will keep us incredibly busy is our BIGGEST BUILD which will have many challenges and need to raise large amounts of funds to ensure we have the facilities for the animals in need for years to come, but something that is incredibly exciting.
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