News Round-Up - Spring 2016, Issue 1

Gung Ho! 2016

Our branch is famous for coming up with wacky ideas to raise money for our animals. Whether it's abseiling down a lighthouse, zip sliding across the Bridgewater Canal or shaving our heads - we'll do most things to help more rescued animals! Sadly, the demands on us continue with increasing numbers of unwanted, neglected and abused animals in the local area needing our help. It costs us nearly £30,000 per month to run the branch and we have to raise this money from public donations.

So what have we decided to tackle for our next big fundraiser? 

Well, on the 30th April 11 amazing volunteers (including 2 of our super duper staff) will be tackling something quite different. Not your usual road race, oh no! We'll be doing a 5K but taking on 10 of the greatest inflatable obstacles on the planet! This includes the world's largest inflatable obstacle and the finale is Europe’s biggest ever inflatable slide! Most of us are afraid of heights so it definitely should be interesting.... Our target is £750 can you help us?

You can sponsor Team M&S easily online by clicking here or by texting GUNG55 £1/2/3/4/5 or £10 to 70070

 So who's taking part and why?!

Name:  Dave Hartley 
Role at the branch:  Volunteer at events and generally help out as much as I can!
Involved with branch for:  6 years
Why I volunteer:  I genuinely can think of so many amazing animals that the branch has helped I really wouldn’t know where to start. As they prioritise the animals most in need (those rescued by National RSPCA inspectors) the majority of the stories are pretty horrendous. However, whether it’s a rat or cat, rabbit or guinea pig the branch will do their best to bring them back to health, get them trusting people again and find them a well-suited, loving home.
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I don’t do any proper exercise so the whole experience is going to be very interesting but I’ve abseiled down a lighthouse, the Trafford Centre and across the Bridgewater Canal in Salford Quays for the branch so how hard can it be…….!?

Name:  Deborah Beats

Role at the branch:  Animal Welfare co-ordinator and foster carer to furry things. 
Involved with branch for:  4.5 years
Favourite animal:  There have been too many, my heart belongs to hundreds of small furries. But I guess it would have to be Cheryl, my old black foster cat who hung around the cattery and then my house for a total of 6 months. She had IBD, bald patches and struggled to gain weight but in the end we got her fit and well and she found the best home imaginable with one of our long term volunteers. Happy ending!
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!: I’m dreading running, and just moving at a pace faster than strolling really. My greatest fear is getting left behind and watching everyone else who is much fitter than me vanish off over an inflatable bridge. I am looking forward to sliding down an inflatable slide though, there is one right!?

Names:  Donna Lloyd and Martin Farrell
Roles at the branch:  Volunteer cat foster carers, but we’ve done all sorts over the last 8 years including dog walking and office support
Involved with the branch for:  8 years
Favourite animals:    We've really loved having our little foster cats to stay with us and they're all really special but I think Rumple and Rocky our 3-legged cats have definitely stolen our hearts and of course the lovely Hedgehog, our most recent house guest, who was just a star!
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!: We're really looking forward to this event - spending the day bouncing around on bouncy castles sounds brilliant and not something you get to do very often at our age!

Name:  Hannah Brookfield

Role at the branch:  I run the social media and the website. I also do home visits, events, fundraise, design posters, foster and some dog walking and cat cuddling in my time too! All on a voluntary basis

Involved with branch for: 7 years

Memorable moment:  A case of over 300 rabbits and guinea pigs that we helped with. We agreed to take on about 35-40 of the animals (the rest going to other branches) and my gosh, it was a real eye opener! It was hard work transporting them all (I think the rescue was Hull way), health checking and getting them settled in. Many had terrible conditions particularly bad. The staff and volunteers spent so much time getting them ready for adoption and it was so rewarding to see them eventually find loving new homes.

Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I’ve run a marathon for the branch so you’d think this would be easy! However, it’s a totally different kettle of fish so I’ve been practising with some resistance training for those climbing walls! Hopefully, the fact we are in a big group will help push me on – I don’t want to let anyone down, including the animals we need to rescue in future!

Name:  Ian Collins
Role at the branch:  Volunteer fundraiser, photographer and foster carer
Involved with branch for:  2 years
Memorable moment:  How everybody fell in love with the rats and they all found new homes so quickly
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I'm super excited to bounce around like an idiot whilst raising money for all the lovely animals

Name:  Joy Carvill

Role at the branch:   Volunteer cat cuddler, cat home visitor and event support.

Involved with branch for:  Just under 2 years

Memorable moment:  The one that sticks in my mind the most is of course Toby; a stray found with a sore paw in late 2014. I hadn't been cat cuddling very long and found a lump behind his ear at the cattery. I was shocked and saddened when it was found to be an airgun pellet under his skin which had to be removed by the vet. Despite what had happened to him Toby was a quietly trusting, lovely-natured boy who found a good home through the branch.

Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I am looking forward to tackling Gung Ho with the RSPCA team but apprehensive about getting over high obstacles - my upper body strength is rubbish!

Name:  Lucy Swinton
Role at the branch:  Vounteer cat cuddler, previous dog walker, and new ratty foster-er!
Involved with branch for:  2 years
Memorable animals:  I'd have to say the rat boys in my care at the moment! And Nico the dog. And Randall the cat.
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I've done a similar event to this before - so looking forward to it, especially inflatable obstacles!

Name:  Michelle Flower
Role at the branch:  Animal Welfare Assistant
Involved with branch for:  4 years
Favourite Animal:  Teddy the Lhasa Apso stands out in my mind. I collected him in October 2014 from an inspector who had rescued Teddy from a home where his owners hadn't cared for him properly and let his coat get severely matted. We didn't know, until he literally tumbled out of the van, that his eyesight had also become impaired. It was touch and go with Teddy for a while as he was in such a sorry state, but after a spell in foster care he was adopted. Last year he came to support us at the Big Walkies and it was lovely to see him so happy and well. I cried. A lot.
Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  I am concerned my big fat arse will be mistaken for an inflatable obstacle.

Name:  Tom Hammersley

Role at the branch:  Manager of the Didsbury Charity Shop

Involved with branch for: 5 and a half years

Favourite animal: In the early days of our fostering we had a beautiful fluffy black cat called Cherry in our care. Despite having had a tough start in life living on the streets before she was rescued by the RSPCA, she was an incredibly affection cat. She’d always be sweetly mewing and nuzzling me or standing on her hind legs and waving her paws around for my attention. She was such a good fit with our family that I couldn’t imagine a life without her. We adopted her and renamed her Ponyo and we’ve been best buds ever since.

Thoughts on Gung-Ho!:  As a clumsy man, I am looking forward to running around in a soft inflatable environment in which falling over doesn’t hurt. However I am little concerned I’ll overdo it and throw up in front of everybody.

To get in the spirit of the challenge ahead check out our video!

You can sponsor Team M&S easily online by clicking here or by texting GUNG55 £1/2/3/4/5 or £10 to 70070

Thank you for your support, we'll be sure to update you with pictures after the event!

Update on our Orphaned Baby Bunnies!

We wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone that has donated to our Orphaned Baby Bunnies Easter Appeal. Thanks to you we've raised a fabulous £414 so far! Some of this money has already been spent on vaccinating the gang and getting them health checked. If you'd still like to donate the appeal is still live on Just Giving - just click here!

The babies are growing by the day and they are looking more and more like the distinctive little Rexes they will become! 5 boys and 1 girl are now available for adoption as house rabbits all thanks to our generous supporters, read about the homes they are looking for below!

You may recognise these gorgeous babies, they were the stars of our Easter Appeal! They will be 8 weeks old w/c 4th April and are looking for homes where they will live as house rabbits in the heart of your home.

All the babies are incredibly confident and cheeky and will make ideal family pets. Nothing phases them and they do not think twice about bouncing all over you and reaching up to give you nose to nose nudges.

They have been fed a hay based diet and introduced to a small variety of leafy green veg. They have fantastic appeptites and do mainly all their toilet in litter trays. They love jumping on and off boxes, binkying and exploring.

We cannot stress just how special these babies are. They are incredibly friendly, have very gentle natures and enjoy a stroke. They are easy to handle and are used to receiving lots of kisses! They really are perfect for a family and will really enjoy your company.

Rex rabbits are known for being super intelligent and you will enjoy a relationship with them much the same as a cat or dog. You may even be able to clicker train them, such is their propensity for engagement with people and activities. They have already been taught to go back into their pen with the rattle of a treat box! Above all you will not be short on entertainment with one of these furry folk in your home and you will have a true best friend in no time.

Currently available for rehoming are:
4 black males, 1 agouti male and 1 agouti female.

The babies have been vaccinated, will be microchipped before they are adopted and will be neutered by the branch when old enough. Due to the age of the boys and their pending puberty they need to be rehomed on their own as house rabbits. 

To adopt one of our beautiful youngsters as a house rabbit please contact us on 0161 882 0680 option 4 or by emailing rspcamcr_salford@btconnect.com