Road hog's special delivery

9th August 2007

A newborn piglet has been handed in at the RSPCA Chesterfield animal centre after a bumpy start to her short life.

RSPCA chiefs believe the piglet’s mum was being transported when she gave birth and her little offspring fell out of the vehicle and rolled into the road.

A passing driver rescued the animal on Friday after nearly hitting it while driving along Poolsbrook Road at Poolsbrook.

Richard Woodwards, manager of the RSPCA’s Spital Lane shelter, said: “It must be one of the most unusual arrivals we have had.

“She can’t have been more than half an hour old because her umbilical cord was attached and it was still wet.

“She also still had fluid from the birth around her eyes and mouth.

“We believe someone has been transporting a pregnant sow which has given birth and the piglet has just rolled out.

“She has grazes down her back as if she’s rolled down the road.”

Staff were going to take it in turns to take the piglet home for night feeds, but because of the current ban on moving livestock due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, the centre’s reception supervisor who lives on site is having to do all the night feeds.

The piglet has been named Jasmine by centre staff and is believed to be a Tamworth because of her ginger colouring.

Charity's honour

5th July 2007

Animal welfare chiefs have praised a Derbyshire Times reporter for supporting an under-threat Chesterfield rehoming centre.

Nicola Smith (32) has been awarded the RSPCA’s Local Media Award for her stories about the Spital Lane kennels in Chesterfield.

The cash-strapped charity launched a Save Our Centre appeal in 2003 and the Derbyshire Times supported the campaign by running a seven-month publicity campaign.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “The aim was to raise up to £75,000 – but with the consistent support of the Derbyshire Times in the end the total was £97,000.

“The Derbyshire Times is everything that a local newspaper should be – and if it was not for their support then our centre would be no longer in existence. We are forever in their debt and really think they deserve some recognition.”

Nicola, who wrote many of the stories, was described as “a joy to work with” and also opened the branch’s first charity shop in Chesterfield.

She said: “Animal welfare is a cause very close to my heart, so receiving this particular award means a great deal to me.

“It was a great honour for myself and the Derbyshire Times to receive such recognition for the work we do.”

Nicola was presented with her award at the RSPCA’s annual meeting at Kensington Town Hall.

The Times also runs full-page rehoming features and passes on any excess advertising revenue to the Spital Lane Centre.

• Honoured: Nicola receives the award from RSPCA chairman of council, Mike Tomlinson. RSPCA Photolibrary

Fund-raisers' pet charity...

14th June 2007

Animal lovers across the country have been running, raffling and raising funds for the RSPCA.

Dave Miller (29) ran the Derby 10k at the end of April and raised £519 for the centre on Spital Lane , Chesterfield – half of which came from sponsorship with the rest matched by his employer Royal Mail.

Mr Miller, who lives on Alexandra Road West, Brampton, said: “I've always wanted to do something for the RSPCA. We got our two cats from there last year and I wanted to give something back.”

RSPCA staff also received a cheque for £174 from Inspire packaging, which donated money raised from a company raffle.

Receptionist June Boyne said: “ We asked all the employees to choose who they wanted to support and, as a bunch of animal lovers, the RSPCA came out top.”

And the 1st Bakewell Beavers performed a sponsored silence for the centre which raised £105.

Richard Woodwards of Chesterfield RSPCA said: “It's fantastic that people are still thinking about us and concerned about animal welfare. Without them we wouldn't be able to keep our doors open.”

Silence is golden

9th June 2007

The first Bakewell Beavers 2nd colony have raised a fantastic amount of money for the animals at the Chesterfield & North Derbyshire RSPCA centre. The youngsters all took part in a sponsored silence and managed to collected £105.00 from generous donors.

The beavers had a guided tour of the RSPCA centre and were able to see all the animals which were needing good homes. The staff would like to thank everyone who was involved in raising this money for the centre and organising the trip for the beavers, in particular John & Jackie Gladwin.

Charity note as pub raises spirits

24th May 2007

Customers at a Chesterfield pub were on song at a karaoke fund-raiser – raising hundreds of pounds for two local charities.

Regulars at The Spread Eagle pub on Beetwell Street sang their hearts out to raise money for Chesterfield RSPCA and Ashgate Hospice during a two-day bank holiday karaoke-thon.

A total of £400 was raised and split between the good causes after people paid to sing a song themselves or to stop those not blessed with singing talent from performing!

Tom Symon, pub landlord, said: “It was fantastic. Lots of people came – especially on the Bank Holiday Monday when we started the karaoke at 11.30am and went on non-stop until 1am.”

Tom and wife Jennie decided to support the RSPCA after getting their dog Bobby from the rescue centre and fund-raised for Ashgate Hospice in recognition of the good work it does.

The pub will be raising money for a cancer charity at a karaoke on Bank Holiday Monday next week.