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SPANA celebrates 100 years of helping animals
Kate Hosali founded the charity with her daughter after seeing the poor condition of donkeys and other working animals in North Africa.

Kate and Nina Hosali founded the charity in 1923.

The animal-welfare charity SPANA is today (2 October) celebrating 100 years since it was founded to help working animals abroad.

British mother and daughter Kate and Nina Hosali were inspired to found the charity in the early 1920s, after travelling as tourists through North Africa. Although they enjoyed the sites of the rural farms and the busy markets, they were shocked by the poor condition of the donkeys and other working animals.

The animals were often malnourished, made to carry excessive loads, and had no access to professional veterinary care.

On their return to the UK, Kate and Nina founded the Society for the Protection of Animals in North Africa on 2 October 1923. Kate returned to North Africa, treating wounded animals and educating owners about animal welfare. Nina stayed in London to co-ordinate the charity’s activities.

During the 1980s and 1990s the charity expanded out of North Africa to cover more countries around the world, becoming the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad, although still maintaining the name SPANA.

SPANA is currently working in 23 countries to treat working animals and educate people about animal weflare, last year providing care to 306,412 animals. Recently, it has helped hundreds of animals injured by the earthquake which struck Morocco on 8 September.

Linda Edwards, chief executive of SPANA, said: “The world has changed so much since Kate and Nina began the work that we continue to this day. But what hasn’t changed is our determination to build a better future for working animals.
 
“The need for SPANA’s work is greater today than ever. The welfare of working animals is under severe threat from major global challenges such as climate change, increased political and economic instability, and rising global poverty.
 
“As we celebrate 100 years of SPANA’s critical work, we are looking to the future and are focused on delivering a true and lasting transformation to the lives of working animals across the world.”

 

Image (C) SPANA

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.