Charity

Public urged to do their bit amid ‘new’ challenges for animal welfare

Published

3 weeks ago

June 14, 2024

The RSPCA is set to mark its 200th birthday amid its busiest week of the year – with the charity using its landmark anniversary to issue a rallying call to the people of Wales to join a million-strong movement for animals.

Last year, across England and Wales, the charity took an astonishing 31,947 calls to its emergency line during its birthday week (12-18 June) – more than any other week of the entire year.

The charity’s rescuers also dealt with 5,573 incidents in that week alone – 352 of these in Wales – with its dedicated frontline teams responding to countless pets, wild and other animals subjected to cruelty, neglect and mistreatment. Officers throughout the year dealt with a mighty 19,679 incidents in Wales alone.

Animal rescuers are now braced for another busy period this year – as they prepare to celebrate 200 years of the RSPCA working with the public to change animals’ lives for the better.

It has already been incredibly busy for RSPCA officers throughout their 200th year – with 330,415 calls from across England and Wales received by the charity’s emergency line (up to 27 May) even before the busiest summer months begin; and rescuers dealing with a whopping 116,512 incidents of concern.

Earlier this year, a young badger cub who had fallen onto rocks at Porthlysgi Beach, St Davids, was released back into the wild after a period of RSPCA specialist care.

RSPCA Inspector and Wildlife Officer Keith Hogben attended the location – a rural cove off the Pembrokeshire Coast Path – to collect the badger and take him to a place of safety.

A video taken by Keith spotted he was hidden amongst the rocks. On this occasion a specialist bag designed for wildlife was used instead of a cage due to the difficulties accessing the location safely.

“The cub was found directly below a larger badger sett so we knew where he came from,” said Keith.

“Luckily he was spotted and we were able to find him amongst the rocks and able to get to him before anything happened to him. He would have been very vulnerable out in the open and in the daylight.”

The badger cub was then assessed by Keith and RSPCA Wildlife Officer Ellie West who provided specialist care for the cub. Once the badger was fully recovered from his ordeal they were able to return him to his sett.

Elsewhere, a goose was found with a can stuck on its mouth in Aberdare earlier this year. The Canadian cross greylag goose was spotted in a small pond behind the Lakeside area, near the Dare River, with the can wedged at the top of the beak and in its mouth, so the goose was unable to eat or drink.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer Paula Milton was able to track down the goose and using her net she managed to catch him successfully so she could release him from the can.

“I took him away from the water and put a blanket over him to keep him calm,” she said. “I then got to work by carefully cutting the can off his mouth. Luckily it was aluminium so was easy to cut off.

“I checked him over and thankfully the can had only been on him for a maximum of 48 hours so hadn’t done too much damage and I was able to let him go straight away. He swam off and started to drink straight away.”

Thankfully, there was a happy ending in this case, however, the RSPCA say the incident is another reminder as to the dangers everyday objects can pose to animals – and the importance of ensuring waste and litter is always disposed of correctly.

Now – the charity is urging people to join its million-strong movement with animals facing “some of the biggest threats in our history” – including the cost of living crisis, the growth of intensive farming and climate change.

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “Our dedicated rescue teams are so busy on the frontline for animals, and – as we celebrate our landmark 200th anniversary this week – we’re expecting to be as busy as ever.

“Our birthday week was the busiest week of the whole year last year – and we’re proud that, working with the public, we’re continuing to help animals across Wales.

“But we know we can’t do this alone – and the support of our friends in the animal welfare sector, and the public, is set to be more important than ever as we all look to work together to create a kinder, better world for all animals.

“To keep creating a better world for every animal, we need more people to take action. That’s why, in our 200th year, we want one million people to join our movement – and to share in our vision for every kind.”

Sunday (16 June) marks two centuries since the animal welfare organisation – then the SPCA – was founded at Old Slaughter’s Coffee House in London, by a London vicar, Arthur Broome, and 22 founding members, including the MPs William Wilberforce and Richard Martin.

By 1840, Queen Victoria had given permission for the Society to add ‘Royal’ to its name – and this Royal link was recently maintained with HRH King Charles III confirmed as the charity’s new patron.

In the 200 years since its formation, the RSPCA has worked to change industries, laws, minds, and animals’ lives – and believes working with the public, and education, will be key with animals now facing a raft of new challenges.

The charity has launched a new tool on its website to help people understand how they can help an animal in need as quickly as possible.

Chris added: “We’re so proud that – in so many ways – animals’ lives have changed beyond recognition over the last two centuries.

“But we know animals are now facing some of the biggest threats in our history, from climate change to intensive farming, the cost of living and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

“And the fact that we expect our birthday week to again be one of our busiest of the year for our officers highlights how the RSPCA cannot do this alone – animal welfare is for everyone.

“That’s why we’ve launched a new tool on our website, to help the public understand the best and quickest way of helping an animal they think needs help – like those which may be sick, injured, lost, or abandoned.

“Whether it’s transferring animals to the vet, sharing advice online, or contacting our rescuers to respond to cruelty and neglect, we can all do our bit for animals. Because a world that is better for animals, is better for us all.”

To find out more about how you can join the RSPCA’s million-strong movement for animals visit: www.rspca.org.uk/200.

Charity

Fishguard RNLI volunteers on exercise tasked to real casualty

Published

1 day ago

July 1, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A VOLUNTEER crew out on training exercise were diverted to a real casualty within minutes of launching.

Three volunteer crew members from Fishguard RNLI had just launched the charity’s D class inshore lifeboat Edward Arthur Richardson for a planned routine training exercise, and were attempting to notify HM Coastguard of their intentions when they were tasked to a genuine shout.

The request was to attend to a 5m rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with 2 persons onboard which was located approximately 1.5 miles east of Pen Anglas and had lost all means of propulsion.

With rain moving into the area the two casualties onboard were also open to the elements. On rounding Pen Anglas the casualty vessel was spotted in the distance and the lifeboat made best speed into the conditions.

Once on scene an assessment was carried out and due to the worsening weather conditions and with the boat at risk of drifting towards cliffs due to having no means of propulsion, it was determined the safest course of action would be to establish an astern tow and return the casualty vessel to the nearest safe harbour at Goodwick.

Following a slow tow at 3-4 knots the casualty was brought inside the breakwater at Goodwick where a lifeboat crew member was transferred across to assist in taking the vessel from an astern tow to an alongside tow, giving the volunteer helm more control to bring the casualty vessel alongside the slip at Goodwick.

Once alongside the slip the casualty vessel was made fast and casualties transferred safely ashore to recover their vessel. The lifeboat then returned to station where it was washed down, refuelled and made ready again for service.

Fishguard RNLI volunteer inshore lifeboat Helm, Ian Davies, said: ‘We had launched to carry out routine training for crew working towards their upcoming assessments, this included setting up and establishing astern and alongside tows when we were called upon to assist the casualty, as a result we ended up putting that training into practice to safely return the casualty vessel to shore.

‘The owner did the correct thing and contacted the Coastguard using their radio on channel 16 to report their situation. We would like to remind any water users to ensure they always carry a means of calling for help, most commonly a personal VHF radio or mobile phone kept in a waterproof pouch and should be within reach at all times.’

Charity

RNLI’s rich history showcased in new exhibition at Oriel y Parc

Published

6 days ago

June 26, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A NEW exhibition at Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre celebrating 200 years of the RNLI will launch at the end of this month with an exciting opening event.

Courage and Community: RNLI 200 Cymru is inspired by the tales of valour from the six lifeboat stations and 13 RNLI lifeguarded beaches along Pembrokeshire’s beautiful but hazardous coastline. Timed to coincide with the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, the exhibition is a collaboration between Amgueddfa Cymru, the RNLI and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Consisting of stories, pictures and artefacts, Courage and Community will also feature an Arancia-class inshore rescue craft, offering visitors the chance to get on board, try out some RNLI equipment and have a taste of a rescue at sea.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 29 June in true celebratory style, with a packed programme of music, talks and family-friendly activities.

At 2pm and 2.45pm, Dr Julian Whitewright, Senior Investigator (Maritime) at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, will give 15-minute talks on two notable rescue events from the 20th century – the 1900 wreck of the Cashier off the Solva coast, which involved the Little Haven rowing lifeboat; and the role played by the St Davids lifeboat in an incident involving three tug boats lost west of Solva in 1981.

With water safety forming a key theme at the exhibition, a drop-in engagement pod will be open throughout the day to provide water safety demos and advice from the RNLI and Sian Richardson, Founder of The Bluetits Chill Swimmers.

Live music will be performed by the Solva Ukelele Pirates and Mike Chant, St Davids lifeboat mechanic.

As well as some sea-themed games, younger visitors will have an opportunity to become engineers and magicians in a drop-in thaumatrope workshop with local artist, Kate Evans. A thaumatrope is one of the earliest forms of animation and is an optical illusion toy made from a paper disk, with a picture on each side.

Manager of Oriel y Parc Rachel Perkins said: “We are thrilled to present Courage and Community, an engaging and interactive experience that we hope will captivate our visitors. By showcasing the incredible local stories of bravery and dedication from the RNLI, we aim to deepen the public’s appreciation for their vital work and hopefully inspire a new generation of supporters and volunteers who will continue the legacy of lifesaving for years to come.”

The opening event of Courage and Community will take place on Saturday 29 June, between 10am-3pm. Entry to this remarkable exhibition is free and it will remain on display at Oriel y Parc until 1 June 2025.

More information about this and other events and exhibitions at Oriel y Parc can be found at www.orielyparc.co.uk.

Charity

Upton Castle Gardens celebrate great charity day

Published

1 week ago

June 24, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A GLORIOUS sunny day, a rose garden in full bloom and delicious cakes all helped Upton Castle Gardens near Pembroke raise £760 from entry fees and teas for thebraintumourcharity.org on Sunday June 17th.

The charity open day was held in conjunction with the Cosheston Open Gardens event, held the previous day, and it can be announced that the combined total of these community events being donated to the charity is £5083.

Visitors to Upton Castle Gardens, now an RHS partner garden, were able to enjoy the walled kitchen gardens as well as herbaceous borders and stunning roses. A gentle stroll in the woodland leading to the Cleddau estuary and tea and cakes prepared by the Upton Castle team, rounded off an excellent charity day and a very social weekend in the area, attended by Pembrokeshire residents from all parts of the County and further afield.

“We are delighted with the charity support we received from our visitors and are now looking forward to our exhibition of contemporary sculptures and paintings which will run from the 30th June until the 15th September.”explained Upton Castle owners Prue and Stephen Barlow.

Pictured below From left to right Alan Mason, daughter Hannah Mason, Jane Mason, Cosheston Open Gardens organisers and Prue Barlow of Upton Castle Gardens.