GSPCA moves closer to rebuild

Wednesday 28 February 2024

The GSPCA is going out to tender to find a firm able to build its planned wildlife hospital and other new facilities.

The charity has long-wanted to replace some of its current buildings, and the manager, Steve Byrne, says they are finally ready.

“The Wildlife Build is a much overdue build which is so required to help the 3000+ wild animals we help every year," he said.

“We just about to go to tender and we are very excited to be moving forward with what is a facility for the future to ensure the wildlife of Guernsey and surrounding waters and islands have the emergency care they really need.

“Anyone wanting to know more about any of our projects please do get in touch,” he added.

Pictured: Some of the creatures the GSPCA looks after.

The overall project is estimated to cost around £3 million with Mr Byrne emphasising the scale of the plans.

“The GSPCA is about to go to tender for the biggest build in our 151 year history,” he said. “We fitted a new Small Animal Unit last year, which we have some final touches being completed currently. This had to be done ahead of the three new builds we wish to do which will be a Wildlife Hospital, new Welfare and Rehoming Kennels and Ferret Unit.

“The Welfare Kennel unit to help dogs needing homes, house cruelty cases, strays and those emergency dogs needing our care as well as an isolation kennel area and laundry section for kennels.

“The ferret unit will help house the many stray and unwanted ferrets we help each year and the Wildlife Hospital will provide facilities for the 3000+ wildlife we help every year.

“It is hard to guess exactly the costs but we have made rough estimates and you can donate to a particular build online, or you can make a general donation to the builds and our work by visiting giving.gg/donate(GSPCA).”

The Wildlife Hospital is without doubt the biggest of the three planned builds with a likely cost of around £2,000,000.

The Welfare Kennels will likely cost over £500,000, Mr Byrne said, with the Small Animal, Reptile and Bird facilities estimated to cost approximately £100,000.

The first purpose built Ferret Unit at the GSPCA will cost around £80,000.

The charity has broken down those estimated costs further. They include: 

• Demolitions (Wildlife hospital only) £70,000
• Sub-structure (Wildlife hospital only) £80,000
• Drainage £99,000
• Slab £160,000
• Roof £263,000
• External Walls (Wildlife hospital only) £180,000
• Glazing to whole build (Wildlife hospital only) £70,000
• Each rehabilitation room £40,000
• Central feed kitchen £35,000
• Each marine rehabilitation room and access to pool £30,000
• Rehabilitation aviaries/pens £15-20,000 each
• Receiving office where the public can drop animals off and they can be admitted and entered into the system £25-30,000 
• Flooring (small wildlife centre) £25,000 
• Intake and isolation area (small wildlife centre) £11,000 
• Main rabbit and guinea pig room £22,000 
• Reptile room £8,000 
• Bird room £8,000

READ MORE....

GSPCA caring for record number of seal pups with support needed

LISTEN: Happy 150th Birthday to the GSPCA

Charity Highlights: GSPCA

Tributes paid to former GSPCA boss