Homepage Archive

Lost & Lucky

The Springer Spaniel mix that was found in Roscam on 12th July has been re-united after the owners saw the dog's picture on the Galway-spca website. Both dog and owners were very, very happy to see each other again after 2 months apart!!! The dog was from Kilchreest (22 miles away). Thanks to Eoin for all his efforts in making this a very happy ending. Contact us if you have lost or found a pet and we will include the details on our site. Telephone: 091 563631, 2a Augustine Street, Galway. gspca@eircom.net

How could they???

Meet 3 lucky kittens John, Tommy and Ann On Tuesday morning (8th july) a tote bag full of clothes was left at our shop door. When the staff arrived at 10am it was put in the sorting area for sorting later. When eventually the bag was opened a few hours later and the top half of the clothes taken out, 3 kittens shot out of the bag nearly giving the sorter a heart attack. How sad in this day in age that someone would stick 3 little kittens in the middle of a bag and dump it at the door. These kittens are lucky that no one stole the bag, or a wandering dog did not smell them and attack the bag. How stupid and thoughtless and downright criminal for someone to do this. We had to close the sorting area for the day to try and catch 3 very frightened kittens but they are safe now no thanks to the idiot who did this shame on you who ever you are

How can you help us to help them? Report all animal cruelty and neglect Become a volunteer Make a donation Be a responsible owner Speak out for animals before it's too late... GALWAY 2008, IS THIS YOUR IMAGE OF IT?

Congrats to the Portumna hurling team on winning the All Ireland club hurling final, the purrfect result lads.

Monty ...read A Tribute to Monty on In Loving Memory. We featured Monty’s (Paddy) story in ‘my GSPCA pal’ and it is with deep sadness we tell you our boy Monty has walked over ‘rainbow end’. Sadly and in spite of all Viv and her vet could do Monty’s cancer was fatal. He was a wonderful little man and taught us all a lot in how we should deal with both 2 and 4 legged who are that little bit different. I had the pleasure over the years of meeting up with Monty and Viv on their trips west and saw the difference Viv made to Monty’s life and how much Monty with love and understanding and patience from Viv had come on. We in the GSPCA are so grateful to Viv for giving Monty a great life and a happy life. Monty has been all over the place from Clifden to Belfast to Wexford and indeed one of his last outings was to a protest on ‘Save Tara’ and where he and Viv formed part of the harp. Viv we know how you are feeling and are so happy that Mont got to spend his last wonderful years with you, you were and are his guardian Angel sent to save our little man. We have great memories of him and his wonderful little quirks that made him so special. We know he is with our motley crew and that they are all healthy and having a ball in heaven and are now our special angels. visit In Loving Memory, where we remember our animals that have passed away

Rene, the luckiest kitten in Galway

[UPDATE: Rene has been rehomed] Meet Rene, the luckiest kitten in Galway and a kitten who has used up several of its nine life's. Rene and his siblings got stuck between two walls in a old thatched building in Rinville Park about six days ago. With the help of the park caretaker and our field inspector what started as a simple rescue turned out to be a 6 day rescue which resulted with just Rene making it. Where the kits got stuck was impossible to access and every means of trying to get to them failed. Implements were invented to try and negotiate the tiny area they had to work in as not even a pole could get down there. While we are sad that all the kits could not be saved we are utterly delighted that we were able to get Rene out in what can only be described as a miracles rescue of the little mite. We have just celebrated world animal week and as this rescue started at the end of animal week it has turned out to be the highlight of the week for us. Rene was named after that famous character Rene from 'Allo Allo' who was always getting out of tight corners just like our little lad. Rene is now feeling fine and will make a full recovery from his ordeal over the next few weeks and will go on to have a long and lovely life. Margaret O'Sullivan (PRO) Galway Spca

CHRISTMAS APPEAL
	Legacies You can help us to make Galway a better place for all the animals living here. By leaving a donation in your will to the GSPCA, you will be providing the much-needed financial support we need to continue our vital work in the city and county. It is something that everyone can do but please remember that it is vital you put down GSPCA or GALWAY SPCA otherwise we wont get a penny of it.. For further information contact: 091 563631 or email: gspca@eircom.net
GSPCA say, don't give pets as gifts this Christmas, but please do give a gift of a donation to our sanctuary.
Christmas Cards on Sale €1 or 6 for €5 call to our shop or ring 091 563631	'Sponsorship Certificate' ideal gift for Christmas, birthdays, valentines day, easter, passing an exam, passing a driving test, anniversaries... If you cannot give a home at the moment to one of our animals, why not buy a Sponsorship Certificate instead? For only €25 you get your own Certificate with full details of one of our permanent residents you are helping to care for at Heathlawn Animal Sanctuary. Email our office for full details gspca@eircom.net

The GSPCA and ARAN ask everyone to take Action Now to Help Lone Elephant at Alaska Zoo before it is to late for Maggie

Never underestimate the power of email in animal welfare look what happened to Maggie. The GSPCA and our friends in ARAN who did the organising of this protest are delighted with the result, well done all who took the time to email and save Maggie well done ARAN job well done.

The great news is that after receiving thousands of emails, letters and calls from you and concerned people across the world, the zoo has decided to release Maggie. Zoo officials announced the plan Wednesday, saying the move is contingent upon certain criteria, including the pachyderm's health, a means to transfer her safely, and finding a suitable place for her to live. The zoo board's unanimous decision ends intense speculation and debate in recent weeks over whether the animal should stay or go.

We cannot overly state how thankful ARAN is to everyone who written emails, sent letters and made phone calls to the Zoo when we sent out our action alert to support the campaign. Hundreds of emails flew in from around Ireland, UK, Europe, Australia and the USA including a beautiful video that was made by an Australian activist on You Tube in which she sent to the directors of Alaska zoo to free Maggie and a fantastic poem sent by another kind member in Dublin and much more.

You’re determination does work and sometimes it is a struggle to end animal cruelty, animals like Maggie have no one but you, so please continuing to make that difference, because, together we are making the world of difference for animals just like Maggie. Thank you from us all here at, ARAN and GSPCA.

Last week on two separate occasions, Maggie, the lone elephant at the Alaska Zoo, was found prone and unable to stand up. Amidst a torrent of public outcry, IDA called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately investigate the Alaska Zoo, remove Maggie from the Zoo and send her to a sanctuary with the space, climate, and conditions elephants need to thrive.
Foot and joint disease in elephants are linked to cramped quarters, lack of exercise, and standing on hard surfaces like concrete, often in feces and urine. Maggie is especially prone to such unhealthy conditions, as she must
live completely indoors during the harsh Alaskan winter, constantly walking and standing on hard concrete.
In December 1997, Maggie's long-time elephant companion, Annabelle, also collapsed and could not right herself. News reports indicate that Annabelle was "so sick with infection in her foot and hurting so badly that she
couldn't stand up anymore." She was euthanized at age 33, half an elephant's natural lifespan.
Earlier this week, the Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution supporting Maggie's transfer to a suitable facility. The Alaska Zoo's Board of Directors will consider Maggie's fate next Tuesday night. They are soliciting public comments at directors@alaskazoo.org. Please send a polite email to urge the Zoo to do right by Maggie and send her to a sanctuary.
Urge friends and family members to weigh in as well.
To learn more and to find talking points to help you draft your email, visit
www.helpelephants.com.

The GSPCA with the Irish Seal Sanctuary ask people to go on to this
site and sign the petition, we are the voice of the whales we need everyone to use it to help save them. If you love whales no matter where you are in the world please take the time to sign this very very important petition
> www.worldwhalesanctuary.org

IMPORTANT NEWS

10 May 07: NO PROGRESS with 20 days to go before the works start.

Lates news (sad and an affront) from the association SOS GATS:

With just 3 weeks to go till the works begin, the local council has
still
not destined any space to relocate the cats nor has reached any
agreement
with any animal welfare organization: IT HAS DONE NOTHING TO AVOID THE
TRAGEDY OF HUNDREDS OF CATS DYING UNDER THE SCOOPS OF THE DIGGERS.

In all this time, since its promise 28th March, the situation has only
got
worse: The cats have given birth. If it was already difficult to
collect
hundreds of adult cats in 2 months, it's impossible to do it in 2 weeks
(Supposing that they do end up providing the space) and besides this
collecting the offspring that the cats hide under the tons of rubble.
We ask you to redouble your efforts, make people aware of this
situation
through every means you can, sending messages to the addresses
indicated and
to addresses you've already written to.

*http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-500-cats-in-barcelona-spain.html

* http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/713227854

*VIDEO: **http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgcNo-TRbmo

Thanks you.
Association SOS GATS Barcelona
http://www.geocities.com/sos_gatos

Canada’s Shame

The GSPCA wish to add their name to the world wide protest against Canada and the Canadian goverement over the horrific torture that is going to be inflicted on baby seal ages under a month in the coming weeks. As the world stands in protest which unforunately at the moment is falling on deaf Canadian goverement ears you can help stop this needless horrific torture. Indeed it has been estimated by veterenery panels that up to 42% of these babies who have been slaughtered were skinned while still conscious. Just for a moment think about it, you skin your knee or your finger now imagine its all your body feel the pain and imagine you are a little baby seal still nursing of its mother, now do something.

We ask that you will support ARAN's public call for an end to this slaughter by taking part in theirr peaceful protest this March 15th. Canada's annual seal hunt is the largest slaughter of marine animals on Earth. Last year, more than 330,000 baby harp seals were beaten to death so that they could be made into fur coats, collars, and cuffs. The Canadian government claims that hunters only kill adult seals, but 97 percent of the seals killed last year were less than 3 months of age.

Most of these seals are too young to realize that they should try to escape when their killers approach. They lie totally vulnerable on the ice as their heads are bashed in with clubs. Many are dragged across the ice-still conscious-with boat hooks. Often these sensitive animals are skinned alive for their fur. Their bodies are left to rot on the ice because there is no market for their meat.

We in Galway love our seals , we respect them, fight for them, heal them when they are sick please help the defenceless Canadian babies whoese own Goverement has turned a blind eye to them. We also call on the Irish Goverement to protest and any ministers going to Canada to stay away in protest.

Margaret O Sullivan (pro)

Galway SPCA

The GSPCA are delighted that Mayor of Galway Niall Ó' Brolcháin has joined with us in our Christmas Appeal, that 'A pet is for life and not just Christmas'. Each year we find over the Christmas period puppies and kittens dumped because they are unwanted presents.

We urge you not to give an animal to anyone without first checking does that person want it. Children looking for any pet should not get one ,until they fully understand what having a pet means. To small children a pet is like a toy and they will get fed up of it when the novelity wears off. We would ask parents to bring their children to the library and look up and educate them on responciple ownership.

Traditionally Christmas is the worst time to bring a pet into your home and if you are intending to do so, get it now so it will have time to settle in or leave till after Christmas when the parties ,and visitors have stopped.

If you do find yourself with an unwanted animal please do not dump it on the streets, contact us and we will help you as soon as we can , but bear in mind as our sanctuary is full you may have to wait a few day's.

We thank Mayor O'Brolchaáin for taking the time to support us on this annual appeal to the members of the public .

We wish everyone both two and four legged a safe and happy Christmas.

Margaret O Sullivan
Galway SPCA

NO PETS FOR CHRISTMAS
Mayor of Tuam joins Mayor of Galway with 'no pets for christmas appeal'.

The GSPCA are appealing to the public to support the Mayor's Christmas Appeal, and are delighted to be one of the 4 charities chosen By Mayor Ó' Brolchán .

With Christmas just around the corner , by buying one of these special stars each of the charities will benifit . The monies raised will be used by us to help heat the sanctuary which is now home to over 80 dogs/pups and 30 cats/kittens. We also hope to use some of it in upgrading equiptment, and kennels.

So please support Mayor Ó' Brolchaíns appeal, and buy a star which are available from shops and our office on St. Augustine St , or contact us on 091 563631

Margaret O Sullivan
Galway SPCA

"Rescued animals are SMARTER than JACK".

Galway SPCA are delighted to announce that the latest Smarter than Jack book will feature the story of Valentino and is duee for release mid September.

Smarter than Jack books are the brain child of New Zealander Jenny Campbell, who wanted to put true stories of peoples smart pets together to raise money for Animal welfare.In doing this she has raised lots of much needed funds for animal welfare around the world.

In this upcoming book Galway is the only Irish welfare group featured. The book itself is all about rescued animals who have now found new and loving homes around the world and is the 13th in the series. All the books are wonderfull and contain all true stories and would make great pressies for all the animal people in your life for Birthdays and Christmas.

The books can be ordered through Dubreys on Shop St ,Galway or if you wish you can order directly fromat the Smarter than Jack website
http://www.smarterthanjack.com/charities/gspca.

By purchasing this book you will firstly get a great book for all ages to read, and secondly you will put much needed funds into Galway SPCA, which will enable us to go forward and and improve and modernise our facilities and thus make life better for the animals we care for. As well it will enable us fund plans that are waiting for the necessary money to implement them. And finally i can guarantee you when you have read this book , you will want to go back and order the others they are such great reads.

We would also ask all libraries to purchase the whole series as animal related books are hard to find in our liraries at present. Also it would be good if our schools both national and secondary stocked them for the children to read.

Finally Galway SPCA would like to say a big thank you to Jenny Campbell and all at Smarter than Jack for the courage in believing in her dream and for making things a lot easier for the animal welfare groups that have benifited from her dream not to mention all the animals whose life Jenny has improved..

******

SPECIAL APPEAL

We need volunteers at our sanctuary in Killimor to help socialise our semi-feral cats. If you are a real cat lover, have your own transport and the time, we'd love to hear from you (09096-76397). By spending time with our more nervous cats, you will enhance their chances of a home of their own.

AN UNDE - BREED

Greyhounds, lurchers, whippets and salukis are not the most popular pets in Ireland. Why? Probably because they are not fluffy and cuddly, or have floppy ears and a curly tail, or perform tricks. In fact, these breeds are gentle, require little exercise, and can be perfect pets for the elderly and children alike. Yet still they are disposed of like used tissues when they no longer are able to generate an income for their owners. But do they really deserve this fate?

"Greyhounds sold at Limerick auctions have been found hanging from trees
in Spain after their owners tortured them to death it was claimed today.
The greyhounds which are sold for as low as 100 Euro to Spanish buyers
in the city are allegedly used for racing and coursing by Spanish
gypsies before they are tied to trees and left to slowly die inches
above the ground." (Limerick Leader, March 5th, 2005).

As the great Gandhi reminds us: "There is little that separates humans from other sentient
beings - we all feel pain, we all feel joy, we all deeply crave
to be alive and live freely, and we all share this planet
together."

VACCINATE FOR LIFE

Every week we come across cats and dogs who have never been vaccinated against deadly diseases such as Parvo and Feline Enteritis. Not to vaccinate your pet risks his health and threatens his life. It is heart-breaking to have to destroy domestic pets who are beyond saving and to have to witness their suffering at the end of their young lives. Do the right thing by your best pal and take him to your vet for essential vaccinations.

FOSTER FOLKS

Let's hear it for the foster folks out there who are caring for a number of our dogs unable to get into our sanctuary due to lack of space! This week we feature a selection of those foster dogs and pups who would love to have a permanent home of their own. We have other dogs and cats on foster too, who will pop up in the weeks ahead to tell you how they are getting on. Our foster folks are great, but remember, every pet wants his/her own 'forever friend'. Please call our sanctuary if you want to let the sun into your life by becoming one of our foster lads 'forever friends'. Our understanding cats have graciously agreed to take a back seat this week to let their canine pals hog the limelight. However, they'll be back in force next week!

WALKIES!

How dogs love to hear that word! Please give your dog at least two good walks a day to stop him becoming frustrated and edgy. Give him as much of your time as possible - a quick run round the block is no good to your lively pet. Dogs love to walk and it's great for humans too to have the fresh air, exercise and the chance to stop and chat to other dog owners. Walk your dog responsibly on a lead and take him to interesting places where he can have a good sniff around. Remember that dogs need to sniff the ground; it's how they keep abreast of current events. The ground is a giant dog newspaper, containing all kinds of late-breaking dog news items, which, if they are especially urgent, are often continued in the next street.

DANGERS TO PETS IN YOUR GARDEN
Spring is with us now and folks are getting back into their gardens, but before you go using chemicals on your lawn and plants, think first of your pets. Slug bait, even the 'safe for pets' kind, can and does poison dogs and cats. Fertilisers can burn animals' paws and cause severe toxic sensitivity reactions. Always use organic fertiliser or your own homemade compost, and use cruelty-free methods of discouraging bugs and slugs. Eg, spray diluted soapy water to rid plants of leave munchers, and an added touch of Tabasco sauce to the mix discourages other critters from eating your veggies and flowers.

ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS: HOW TO HELP

If you hit an animal whilst driving, or see an animal being hit by a car, whether it is a dog, cat, fox, badger, please do not keep driving. Stop and check the condition of the animal. If the animal is dead, move it to the side of the road away from traffic and further damage. If injured, use your mobile phone to contact the GSPCA, Gardai or nearest vet. If possible, stay with the animal until help arrives. If you must leave, ensure you have given clear directions as to the animal's location. There is nothing more horribly upsetting to the owner of a pet than to see it in bits on a road, when perhaps it could have been saved. Keep emergency telephone numbers saved on your mobile phone so that you can act quickly.

'Sponsorship Certificate' ideal gift for birthdays, valentines day, easter, passing an exam, passing a driving test,anniversaries,...

** If you cannot give a home at the moment to one of our animals, why not buy an Sponsorship Certificate instead? For only Euro 25 you get your own Certificate with full details of one of our permanent residents you are helping to care for at Heathlawn Animal Sanctuary. Perfect for a birthday or Valentines Gift! Email our office for full details
gspca@eircom.net**

As ever we need volunteers to walk dogs and play with the cats at our sanctuary and to man our phones and charity shop in Galway city.
Please contact us if you have a few hours spare.

...The gspca is urging all consumers to be extra vigilant when buying coats,jackets,boots,toys, or any product where there is fur used to check it out in case it is dog or cat fur.
We would appeal to all shop owners not to buy any fur products even fake fur where there could be a question mark over the type of fur.People who buy for shops should be aware that fur products listed with unusual animal names for example "fin lake fox" is another name for dog fur....

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