Puppy family needs new homes

21th August 2008

These adorable pedigree puppies are on the lookout for a new home.

Nine Saluki pups, described as "ideal family pets", were brought into the RSPCA Chesterfield animal centre, along with their mum, when their owner was unable to cope.

Richard Woodwards, manager for the animal centre, said it was extremely unusual for the centre to take in a litter of pedigree pups, as normally only a handful are brought in each year.

He said: "They have all been temperament tested and all the litter can be placed with young children under the age of five. They are very good natured and would make ideal family pets."

The litter of four females and five males, aged eight weeks old, is now up for rehoming, together with their three year old mum Lulu.

• Home hunt: Bev Williamson & Rebecca Kennel with the pups

***The puppies and Lulu have now been successful rehomed. Thank you to everyone who shown interest in them and offered them new homes***

Rocky start but ready to lead a new life

27th July 2008

A couple from Worksop have been banned from keeping animals for five years after pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to their dog in a case brought by the RSPCA.

Rocky, a five-year-old German shepherd, was signed over to the RSPCA in November 2007 after RSPCA Acting Chief Inspector Tina McAdam visited his home.

During her visit, Acting CI McAdam discovered Rocky with a skin disease, which stemmed from an untreated flea allergy. He also had a problem with his bowel and a low body weight, and was living in a house that was dirty and infested with fleas.

Rocky suffered due to lack of money and transport

On Monday, 14 July at Worksop Magistrates Court, Beverly Eden (42) and Kevin Smith (49) both pleaded guilty to charges of causing unnecessary suffering by failure to provide veterinary treatment, and failing to protect the dog from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

In addition to the ban, the couple, who are from Carlton-in-Lindrick, near Worksop in Nottinghamshire, were each given a 12-month conditional discharge, and Eden was ordered to pay £100 towards veterinary costs.

RSPCA warning on cat collars

10th July 2008

Animal welfare chiefs are warning of the dangers of elasticated collars after seeing an increase in the number of cats taken into the centre with injuries.

Chesterfield RSPCA has so far this year treated seven cats for injuries caused when they have tried to squeeze through small gaps and their collars have pushed over their heads and stuck under their armpits.

Richard Woodwards, manager of the Spital Lane centre, said "The centre usually dealt with just one or two cases a year.

"Up to the beginning of June we've had a lot of stray cats come into the centre with collar injuries," he said. "We've has seven so far this year and two are particularly horrendous."

The RSPCA is advising people to invest in collars which snap off if they get caught on anything, or get their pets micro-chipped.

Pictured: Jane Strauther shows off the extent of Bluebell's injuries

Animal centre under TV spotlight

3rd July 2008

The RSPCA Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch will soon be featured on an ITV 1 documentary. The documentary will bring to light the issues that face the centre due to new animal welfare legislation. The programme will also will give an illustration of how the branch provides such an important role in our community.

The re-homing centre will soon have to bring all animal accommodation up to new standards to comply with the current animal welfare act. This essentially means the centre which receives no government, lottery or head office funding will have to be rebuilt to remain open. This will come at a costly price which without local generosity and support could prove to be a very difficult time for local animals in need.

The programme entitled 'Wood You Believe It' will be broadcast on ITV 1 on Thursday 14th August. If you would like anymore information about our rebuild please call 01246 273358 or email info@chesterfield-rspca.org.uk

• Pictured: Animal Centre Manager Richard Woodwards with the ITV film crew

James Wellbeloved wheelie make a difference

22nd May 2008

Our old animal centre van, a white ford transit was well and truly on its last legs and it was letting us down on a regular basis. As you can imagine without our van the centres capability to operate successfully is severely compromised and we began to look at the possibility of purchasing a good quality second hand van.

We soon realised that good quality vans don't come cheap and being a self funded local charity most of the vans that we viewed were out of our price range and we became increasingly concerned.

At this point the decision was made to have a speculative chat with a long term company friend of the centre the dog food manufacturer James Wellbeloved. We explained the situation to their national sales manager and he said he would relay our request to their head office.

After a nail biting couple of months the fantastic news came through that James Wellbeloved were in a position to give us a budget to purchase a van. As you can see by the pictures the RSPCA Chesterfield & North Derbyshire Branch now has a reliable set of wheels that will enable us to continue with our valuable animal welfare work for years to come.

We would also like to say a massive thank you to James Wellbeloved as a company for all their kindness and enthusiasm and for supporting grass roots animal welfare work at a local level.

Pictured: Animal centre manager, Richard Woodwards and kennel assistant Emmeline Virgilio with the new van