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15/03/2010 - Veterinarians Act for Animals in Bristol
Staff at the RSPCA Bristol Branch Clinic are breathing a huge sigh of relief, having finally finished three months of extra veterinary work generated by their Animal Action event held in the city last November.
The Community Animal Action Week was a joint initiative between the National RSPCA and the RSPCA Bristol Branch. A team of RSPCA Officers with vets, nurses and volunteers from the Bristol Branch visited 737 homes in Hartcliffe & Withywood to offer the residents both advice and practical help such as neutering, microchips, flea treatments, health checks etc for their pets.
Chief Inspector Rebekah Griffiths, who helped organise the project, said “we had small teams going door-to-door in the area, to carry out microchipping and flea treatments and distribute neutering vouchers while a temporary veterinary centre was set up in a unit kindly donated by the Gatehouse Centre, to offer pet health checks and free veterinary consultations.”
During the week 153 animals were microchipped, 174 animals were treated for fleas, and 110 animals were booked in for neutering at the RSPCA Bristol Branch Clinic in St. Philips. These were finally completed this month.
Mandy Stone, Veterinary Manager of the RSPCA Bristol Branch Clinic said “We have really had to pull out all the stops to fit in all the extra operations, and the cost of neutering alone to our Branch was over £4,500. It’s money very well spent though – preventing accidental litters will hopefully have the effect of reducing the numbers of stray and unwanted animals coming into rescue centres, and neutering has clear health and welfare benefits for dogs, cats and rabbits.”
“Promoting responsible pet ownership and educating people about animal welfare are key aims of the RSPCA Bristol Branch. This type of pro-active community event gives us the chance to do just that, and to take our services to the people and pets who need us most.”
RSPCA Bristol Branch is made up of the RSPCA Bristol Animal Clinic and Bristol Dogs and Cats Home. The Clinic treats over 12,000 animals a year and provides a 24 hour veterinary service for lost, sick and injured stray animals, subsidised veterinary treatment for people on a low income, a first aid centre for wildlife casualties and ‘well dog’ clinics for the animals of homeless people. Bristol Dogs & Cats Home, provides care, shelter and a re-homing service for nearly 2,000 unwanted dogs, cats and small animals every year. Together the Clinic and Dogs Home give thousands of local animals in need a second chance for a happy life, free from pain or neglect.
With so many animals to care for the charity’s annual running costs exceed £1.4 million. While a branch of the RSPCA, the Bristol Branch is actually an independent charity receiving no funding from the National RSPCA, Government or the Lottery. We therefore rely on the support from the community through donations, legacies and fundraising events to continue our important work.
Following the success of the Action Week, the RSPCA Bristol Clinic is now offering pet owners from other parts of the city the chance to get their animals microchipped at very low cost. Discount microchipping afternoons are being held on 17 and 24 March 2010, when pet owners on benefits or a low income can get dogs and cats chipped for the bargain price of £3.50. Clients will need to be assessed for eligibility and make an appointment - please call 0117 9724567 for details.
A microchip is recommended by the RSPCA as an effective way of permanently linking pets to their owners, increasing the chances of them being reunited if the animal is lost, stolen or strays.
