Cruelty to animals

RSPCA – Ending Cruelty to Animals

Parent & Teacher Guidance
RSPCA – Ending Cruelty to Animals

The RSPCA is the Royal Society that prevents Cruelty to Animals and they have been in existence since 1824. They are the largest and oldest welfare charity with the important work of rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming or releasing animals across England and Wales. In 2020 they dealt with 57,000 cases of animal cruelty. Through the support of the public and their employees they act on a daily basis to fulfil their mission. 

Their team of animal rescuers take action to rescue, rehabilitate and care for animals and assist all those animals in need. They have animal re-housing centres, a rehabilitation hospital for wildlife and other animals, funded through contributions to the RSPCA nationally along with local centres. All local charities operate under guidelines set by the RSPCA nationally and receive funding from local donors. It is this sponsorship that allows the workers to rescue animals and investigate animal cruelty and animal crime. 

Their rehoming and rehabilitation centres also include the 'Pets at Home' shops together with wildlife centres. They also have four animal hospitals and clinics that support the RSPCA's work to cure sick or wounded animals. 

Their vision for the next decade highlights eight important messages, the most obvious being to halt cruelty to animals. 

Glossary
RSPCA
'Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals'
Mission
To secure a good life for animals through rescue and care and encouraging others to show respect and care.
Animal cruelty
Officers investigating animal cruelty and neglect. In the worst cases, individuals can be prosecuted.
Animal crime
Arraging fights between animals such as dogs and cockerels, wildlife crime such as hunting and killing badgers and trapping birds as well as the illegal sale of puppies.
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Carwyn
18/06/2021
New member to the family

A Guinea Pig is a sociable and talkative rodent. Different breeds of guinea pigs can be purchased in a wide variety of colours and coat length. Guinea pigs usually live for 5-6 years, but some may live longer. 

  1. A Guinea Pig is a very clean animal and the cage should be cleaned at least twice a week by removing food residue and excrement, and changing the water before adding more straw. 
  2. In terms of diet, you will need to ensure plenty of Vitamin C (30g to 50g) and lots of fibre and fresh water without chlorine, together with guinea pig pellet food. 
  3. Guinea Pigs are sociable animals and are therefore better in a group of two or more. 
  4. Most guinea pigs enjoy a scratch behind the ear or rub on the back.  
  5. Guinea pigs hate loud noises so they are better in a cage outdoors with plenty of space to run around and exercise. 
2 Guinea pigs
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Reading dogs - by your side

Reading dogs – By your side

The 'Burns By Your Side' scheme is targeted at children who need to develop better reading and communication skills. The idea has been successfully piloted in America to help children in educational establishments gain more confidence in developing vocabulary and fluency by reading with the help of a dog. 

Based in Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Burns trains volunteers and their dogs who then visits schools and libraries to listen to children reading. 

The benefits of dog-assisted reading are:- 

  • encouraging the child to read independently 
  • developing self-confidence and self-worth 
  • developing fluent reading  
  • making the child feel less stressed 

Dogs visiting schools are seen as non-judgmental listeners, alleviating the fears of children who lack confidence in reading. 

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Border Collie

Training Sheepdogs

Border Collie is one of the best breeds for herding sheep as they are capable dogs, with remarkable instincts and great working ability. 

Up to seven months old the puppy should be allowed to enjoy itself and this is the time to form a relationship and let the dogs familiarise themselves with people and gain confidence. The best time to start training the puppy is between 6 and 12 months of age when the dog is fast enough to run after the sheep and cope with the stress of training and being close to sheep. 

The basic commands for training a traditional sheepdog are "Come-bye" which tells the dog to move clockwise while "Away" means move anti-clockwise around the sheep. "Walk up" is another command which means move towards the sheep. "Steady" and "Time now" both mean slow down. 

During 2020 sheepdog trainer Dewi Jenkins from Tal-y-bont sold a 10-month-old sheepdog for £12,000, breaking the world record. A sheepdog that is effective in gathering and penning the flock across the rocky terrain and mountains of Wales is invaluable to a farmer and an integral part of a shepherd's daily life. 

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Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve

Dyfi Osprey Project at Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve

The Dyfi Osprey Project is a conservation project at the Cors Dyfi Centre near Derwen-las, Machynlleth in Powys, under the care of Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust. The reserve has 112 types of bird, 504 butterflies, 24 mammals and 18 dragonflies and damselflies. 

Ospreys were almost recognised as extinct in 1916 but came back extensively to over 300 pairs in Scotland by 1954. However, only four pairs are breeding in Wales today. 

The Glaslyn Valley offers great and scientific views of Welsh wildlife.  Over 180,000 people have visited the Cors Dyfi Centre since the osprey project was established in 2004.  

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PC Heledd Wynne-Evans, Heddlu Gogledd Cymru

PC Heledd Wynne-Evans (1535) 

My name is PC Heledd Wynne-Evans and I have been working as a Police Officer in North Wales for 26  years. 

I have been part of the Rural Crime Team since December 2018.  I really enjoy working with the team. It is a pleasure to work in the agricultural sector and with people who have a real interest in animals, nature and the countryside. 

Before starting work with the Rural Crime Team, I was a Community Police Officer for Schools. The Police Service has given me the opportunity to work within various sections. One of my favourite sections was the dog section. My dog was called Casper and he had great discipline and was a loyal friend to me. 

Working as a Police Officer has given me incredible experiences and I finished my career taking action to protect rural animals which is something close to my heart. 

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05/09/2021

Weather: Sunny, blue sky  

Temperature: 22 degrees celsius at noon 

Wind direction: South East 

Speed: 6 mph. 

 

What a day! I feel like I've spent my time labouring all day on various tasks. Can you believe I'm so tired that my bones hurt! I got up before sunrise this morning because a cow was calving. It was soon time to milk 250 faithful cows standing patiently waiting for the door of the milking parlour to open. Like every other day, Nico the loyal sheepdog by my side kept me company.  

After a quick bit of breakfast, it was out on the tractor. Haymaking today before the rain comes at the end of the week. It ‘s good to see the sun to collect the bales of hay and load them into the shed. The task after getting back to the yard was feeding the calves and cleaning out the pigsty. Hallelujah, time for afternoon tea and some bread and cheese to keep up the energy for the late shift! 

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Are Idris and Telyn home? I wonder what’s on the menu for lunch today?

Dyfi Osprey Project - Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust's

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Welsh Willife

Vandalism Llyn Brenig Ospreys

3 May 2021

The North Wales Wildlife Trust woke to the most terrible news this morning. A platform holding a rare osprey nest was cut down with a chainsaw in a "horrific vandalism incident" at Llyn Brenig on Friday 30 April at 21:42pm. 

The North Wales Rural Crime Team investigating the case says the rare ospreys had just laid their first egg the previous day before it was demolished.  

The Brenig Osprey Project is a partnership between Welsh Water and the North Wales Wildlife Trust at Llyn Brenig. The Osprey exhibition is open daily to the public. Unfortunately, this year this opportunity has disappeared following a horrific act of vandalism. The ospreys are still in the area and have been seen flying around the lake.

Osprey

The North Wales Rural Crime Team continue to investigate the crime and are asking for any information from the public to assist them in their enquiries. 

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