News Round-Up: Spring 2017 Issue 5

9 years of Rabbit Rehoming 

We did it folks, we made it through another grey and rainy Manchester winter and whilst our charity shops busily swap the heavy coats and woolly scarves for bright, cotton t-shirts we are preparing to celebrate our 9^th year rehabilitating and rehoming rabbits! Watch our video in celebration of all things bunny-shaped!

Rabbits are our favourite hairy herbivores and most of you will know that at this branch we take rabbit welfare very seriously.

Alice & Bea were left to starve

A hutch is not nearly enough for these energetic and intelligent creatures and companionship with their own kind is often vital. Despite spending the past 9 years educating adopters in the North West on the merits of good rabbit welfare we are still inundated with the little critters. I’ve lost track of the amount of times Susie, the charity's manager, has promised not to admit another bunny until our numbers drop and then cave in as an Inspector shows her a photo of a large breed bunny in a tiny hutch with nothing but bread for food. But that’s why we are here after all, to help those who have not experienced a good start in life.  You can help us help more rabbits in need by texting BUNS09 £1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or £10 to 70070 today!

Recent fav! Pocket-rocket Bruce Lee

Thankfully the never ending calls from inspectors to admit animals have been offset by our remarkable rehoming figures for this quarter. We have already found forever homes for 129 animals in 2017 which is unheard of as January, February and March are normally the quiet time when we gather together our aims and ideas for the year ahead, but no such luck. Last year I selfishly despaired when we failed to hit the 500 mark when really, for such a small branch without its own animal centre, 498 animals rehomed is well worth celebrating (I could have fit another 2 in somewhere at home, I’m sure!) but it looks like we are well on target this year to achieve another record breaking year. 

So far the main themes running through the year have been special case animals and large scale rabbit rescues. The main star of our blog has been Sausage, a young cat found with a nasty infection and broken tail. On closer examination she was found to have a metal plate in her pelvis, so was obviously as well loved companion at some point. Without a traceable owner we ended up having to amputate her tail and find her a new home which I am very happy to say we did in March after 9 weeks rehabilitation. 

Sausage relaxing in foster care, her mysterious pelvis below!

Just this week alone we have been asked to help with three large scale rabbit rescues, ranging from 40 to 80 rabbits in each single property. It is massive undertaking which one branch cannot cope with alone so all the branches from the surrounding areas just have to take what they can. The upside of these cases is a constant stream of cuteness for us as there will always be one mummy bunny having just given birth; we have a litter in at the moment that are 4 weeks old who are just the perfect size for snuggling! 

Deb and Susie having cuddles in between health checks!

So as we enter Spring we have given up on the notion of ever having a quiet month to regroup and are just marching on instead with broken conversations as we pass each other in the vets and post-it notes stuck on keyboards, we’ll get the summer fundraising events organised eventually! For now keep an eye on our website for our blog updates and be sure to tell anyone considering getting a companion rabbit where to find us!

Talking shop

News from the shops from Didsbury shop manager Tom. 

Despite torrents of rain, gale-force winds and the odd dusting of snow, 2017 is off to a great start at all of the branch’s 4 shops thanks to the continued support of our customers and donors. I’m always moved to see brave, determined people fighting against the elements as they burst through the door with ‘bags for life’ full of goodies in their hands and we always make sure to give them a hero’s welcome. Good news is that Spring is here and the weather is finally getting warmer!

Sunny days are always the most profitable so it’s vital we make the most of every single one we get. If you’ve started your spring clear out, we’d be incredibly grateful for some more summery dresses, tops and t-shirts. They absolutely fly off the rails when the climate is right so we really never can have enough.

Kitten season is just around the corner now, so if you’re not able to donate items we are still in desperate need of pouches of wet kitten and cat food (Whiskas and Felix preferred). You are more than welcome to drop it into any of the shops for us to pass on, and of course you can always double your contribution by buying a few things while you’re here if you fancy treating yourself.

 

I can’t finish without telling you about a rare book that we had donated that is currently up for auction on Ebay. It is a rare limited edition book called Wyman Shoots Chagall by Bill Wyman. It is edition number 19 of 50 and includes a signed and numbered photo of the artist Chagall and his wife! The donor was aware of its potential value and has so generously given us this and many other amazing books to raise money for the animals.

The branch has 4 charity shops in Urmston, Didsbury, Chorlton and Northern Quarter and always need good quality donations of clothing, books, bric a brac and small items of furniture. See locations and opening hours here!

Run the Gauntlet!

Dare you join team RSPCA Manchester Animals on Saturday 16^th September 2017 at Heaton Park and help raise money for the charity at the epic Gauntlet Games?

We know there are a number of you out there who enjoy adventure races and getting deep down and dirty in the process and what could be more exciting than taking on 15 obstacles and real life Gladiators on a 5 or 10k course? Gauntlet Games really is more about fun than finishing times and offers a unique team experience to enjoy whilst at the same time helping to save animals’ lives.

We are seeking 10 animal loving people with a competitive spirit and fundraising prowess to join team RSPCA Manchester Animals at the Games. Team members run for free if you raise a minimum of £125 in sponsorship money. So why not sign up with a friend and have double the fun and take double the satisfaction in having helped so many animals too!

To enquire further about the opportunity email Susie at rspcamcr_salford@btconnect.com. Hurry, places are filling fast for the event on Saturday 16th September.