Olga and Chris enjoy
spending time with the dogs at the sanctuary..
These photos were taken on Olga's birthday and the dogs were happy to
get an extra walk from her on her birthday!
click on each photo for a larger version
Eimear
keeping the phones answered
Volunteer
trainer Maureen showing the ropes to a new volunteer
Volunteers Katie and Mícheál playing with the kittens
Mícheál playing with Tia and Abby
Tia and Chico discussing MÍcheal's tatoos and wondering how
they could get some
Daniela
working in the Cattery
Miro and Spiky
Miro
and Spiky keep us up to date in the communications field and put
our problems right.
GSPCA
Shop and Office
Annmarie
working in the office
Tommy
and Ann working in the shop
View
of shop
View
of shop front
Resident
Photographer Dmitry
Meet
Dmitry Simbaev, originally from Russia now living in Galway. Dmitry
is our resident photographer and has become a big hit with
our dogs and cats who just love his accent, as far as our lads are
concerned its 'from Russia with love' when they spot Dmitry and
his camera.
GSPCA
Shop gets a facelift ala give it a swirl!!
shop
before
shop
after
The
'boss' shows them how
Men
at work
Our
wonderful volunteers
John
and Ann in the shop
Millie
and Kit
Millie
getting 'pet pals' ready for tuam herald
Kit
working on the next 'paws' for the galway advertiser
Susan
This
was Susan's first day and she got on great...
In
Memory
It
is with deep sadness that we heard of the passing of our dear friend
and life long member of the GSPCA veterinary surgeon Michael Brennan.
Michael has been a member from the early days, and served for several
years on the committee before becoming our veterinary advisor, as
well as advisor for all things GSPCA.
His love of animals in his care was truly devotion and indeed the
care he took of our animals was always first class. It didn't matter
to Michael that it was picked up from the road side, it always got
the Michael treatment.
His 'bedside' manner was unique, he might recite a bit of poetry or
tell a little story thus putting animal and human at ease. He was
a great man for information and if he did not know he found out for
you.
Michael was more than your vet, he was your friend and was always
there to steady you when you came in with your pet. A quick word,
gentle advice or just a good joke to lift the spirits. He would always
do everything in his power to help your pet but yet if he thought
the time was now, he gently told you and gave you time to say good
bye.
We
will miss
you Michael, but more so the animals will miss you. One thing Michael
we can guarantee is you never will be forgotten as in life and now
in death the stories you gave us, the fun we had in your company the
jokes, the slagging will never be forgotten and will always be shared
with those lucky enough to know you.
To his family, his work colleagues, words can not express what his
loss is to you all.
As you loved to ease us with a bit of poetry, now we will return the
compliment and say a little bit of this poem for you
For
All the One's I have Loved and Lost
Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint on the snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
Good bye old friend, rest well
and
online . . .
Gaetane
This website
would never have seen the light of day if it were not for French
woman Gaetane Rauch. Gaetane came over from France a few years
ago and worked with us in the sanctuary. As a web designer she
offered to put a new web site together for us and so www.galway-spca
was born. Gaetane designed and updated it while she lived in Ireland
and continued to do so when she returned to Rennes.
As her work
load has increased she was finding it harder to get the time to
keep us going so and as luck would have it Adrienne came into
our live's and surprise surprise she too was a web mistress .
So she worked with Gaetane and has now taken over the web for
us.
Meet Roxy a beautiful
gentle lady who is just a year old. Sadly Roxy was the victim of
a hit and run and suffered serious leg injuries to her shoulder
and elbow. She needed very extensive surgery to save her leg which
thankfully was successful.
We don't usually
publicise cruelty cases, but this one is different as we feel that
these two dogs may have been stolen.
The two dogs, which we called Annagh and Raftery, were found at
Annaghdown pier;
Annagh was found by the pier by a lady who lives there, but poor
Raftery was found on a rock off the pier and had to be rescued by
a fisherman. Both dogs were suffering from malnutrition and Annagh
has a burn down its back.
Both dogs are very friendly and were definitely someone's pets,
and our wish is that dogs and owners could be reunited. If these
dogs look familiar to you or are indeed your long lost pal please
ring us on 091563631.
Indeed if you know anything about these dogs and where they were
confined please let us know. Both dogs are improving and putting
on weight and Annagh's back is healing
Meet
Lucy, a little seal rescued from the docks
in Galway.
The month was
March but the weather was November wet, howling wind and freezing
we huddled around Lucy and bid her, long life, safe life, healthy
life farewell. She stuck her nose out of her box smelt the wind
saw the sea and took off like a March hare. She now is back home
in Galway Bay counting the days till the big boats arrive. Bon voyage
Lucy
Lucy
was very ill with a viral infection but thankfully is now on the
road to recovery. Her rescue proved to be an easy task as out field
inspector with Mary Mc Donagh from Mc Donaghs fish shop were able
to coax her up the steps with some fresh fish, and when on dry land
our inspector was able to lift her into a container. She was then
driven to Athlone where she was transferred to a member of the Irish
Seal Sanctuary. At present Lucy is recovering in the Irish Seal
Sanctuary in Garristown Co Meath, she has put on weight and is now
nearly recovered from her infection. When she reaches the required
weight she will return to Galway and be released back in the area
of the docks all going well this should happen around the end of
March. The date is not fixed yet so we will let you all know nearer
the time.
Release of Lucy the seal on Saturday 7th of March at 4pm
Meet
5 very lucky kittens who survived after being left at our shop door
in appalling weather conditions overnight. Judging by the condition
of the box they were in, they spent several hours at our door on a
very busy Friday night. The thoughtless, stupid person who did this,
didn't care if these lads survived, all they wanted was to pass their
problem on. Indeed these kittens are truly lucky that some drunks,
yobs, dogs did not find them. When we found them the box was so wet
that they were just about to get out of it so picture 5, 4 week old
kits trying to survive on a busy Galway Street. To the person who
did this and I hope you read this, you broke the law, and you are
a total selfish I would love to use a stronger word but I will have
to go with idiot you put these little lives in danger and yes if you
still have the mother please do something right and get her neutered.
Acts like these are criminal and if anyone ever sees it happening
be it at our door, the side of the road, a dustbin please do your
civic duty and report it.
These guys are lucky they now are with us and we won't let them down.
This
is Phoebe who sadly lost her kits in the early stage of her pregnancy.
As you can see from these pictures the sadness in her eyes tells
the whole story of her loss. She was looking for her kittens and
calling them today. And when she wasn't able to find them she spotted
Sandy and "adopted" her immediately. Look at them in those
pictures - beautiful photos but when you know what's behind them,
they make us cry knowing how she feels and we can do nothing but
love her.
We think all of
our animals are lovely, but some don't arrive in such good condition.
Here are some photographs showing how we've helped restore dignity to
those that needed our love and attention, so that they can be adopted
and live long and happy lives.
We got the call the
engineer visited us, it was all systems go, Galway bay fm were coming
in the morning to present the Keith Finnegan show from our shop. Keith
was on a much needed break so Gerry Murphy stood in.
Having never met Gerry before, it was indeed a please to meet up with
him. The show started and what an experience to see how a programme is
put together and how everything fits in and how everything is timed.
For the show we had Donnacha from Galway volunteer centre talking about
the work they do. Vinny from Charlie Byrnes book shop called in to tell
us they are 25 years in business. A garda from Mill St, one of the lads
from FAS these were just a few of the people popping in. In between all
that both Helen and myself spoke of the animals, work,the worries, the
abuse we face daily trying to keep our organization going. As Helen said
apart from the FAS workers the rest is all volunteer including the committee
who put in a 7 day week while holding down jobs as well.
To finish off Bernie Ní Fharratha from the Connacht tribune joined
Gerry with the sentinel news and the bit of craíc as well. What
a morning we totally enjoyed having everyone visit and say a big thank
to Gerry and Fionnuala for making it happen and invite them to come back
soon.