Llys Nini branch of the RSPCA - News - 29/09/04 - Concern at numbers of injured seal pups and abandoned kittens

This year we have also had to deal with record numbers of abandoned kittens. Currently, all the cat pens are full and practically every room at the Centre has additional cages of kittens.

"We are very grateful to all those people who contribute to our running costs, without them, we could not begin to undertake our work. However, at this time we would ask for some extra help. Anyone wishing to become a supporter of the Animal Centre can send for a leaflet from RSPCA Llys Nini, Swansea SA4 9WB, phone 01792 229435 or contact us through our web site www.llysnini-rspca.org.uk"

Llys Nini Animal Centre is situated at Penllergaer, just off junction 47. It is open 6 days a week Thursdays - Tuesdays from 11.00 to 3.00. Anyone wishing to adopt a cat, kitten, dog, or small animal is welcome to visit the Centre. The seals, being wild animals are not on view to the public, they stay at the Centre until they are well enough to be transported to the RSPCA seal "Hospital" in Norfolk.

Any member of the public who spots an injured seal should contact the National RSPCA 24-hour emergency hotline: 0870 55 55 999

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29/09/04: Concern at numbers of injured seal pups and abandoned kittens
Seal receiving treatment from Gary Weeks (Deputy Manager, Llys Nini) and Steve Byrne (Manager, Llys Nini)	RSPCA personnel at the Llys Nini Animal Centre in Swansea are becoming extremely concerned about the number of young seals found in distress around the coast of South and West Wales. The "seal season" (the time when the newly born seal pups are most vunerable) usually starts in September and continues into the New Year. In previous years the Animal Centre has accommodated 3 or 4 baby seals each year. However, to date 8 seal pups have been admitted into Llys Nini. They have all been babies, some have been dangerously under weight, some have been badly injured and another has been covered in oil. "We cannot really understand what is causing such a bad year for these young seals. Our only explanation is the bad weather. Storms earlier this month may have separated baby from mother, perhaps the seas were too rough for the mother to land to feed the baby, or perhaps the high tides and storm waves have washed the youngsters off the beach. The injured seals have gashes, cuts and abrassions consistent with being driven on to the rocks. Obviously, from an animal welfare point of view, we are concerened at the high number of incidents but as a Branch-run animal centre we are also concerned about being able to cope with the crisis. We have to raise all our running costs from local donations ( we receive no state or RSPCA aid), normally we budget for 3 or 4 seals at the Centre in any season, this year we have already had double that and we may have to deal with up to 50 more.
This year we have also had to deal with record numbers of abandoned kittens. Currently, all the cat pens are full and practically every room at the Centre has additional cages of kittens. "We are very grateful to all those people who contribute to our running costs, without them, we could not begin to undertake our work. However, at this time we would ask for some extra help. Anyone wishing to become a supporter of the Animal Centre can send for a leaflet from RSPCA Llys Nini, Swansea SA4 9WB, phone 01792 229435 or contact us through our web site www.llysnini-rspca.org.uk" Llys Nini Animal Centre is situated at Penllergaer, just off junction 47. It is open 6 days a week Thursdays - Tuesdays from 11.00 to 3.00. Anyone wishing to adopt a cat, kitten, dog, or small animal is welcome to visit the Centre. The seals, being wild animals are not on view to the public, they stay at the Centre until they are well enough to be transported to the RSPCA seal "Hospital" in Norfolk. Any member of the public who spots an injured seal should contact the National RSPCA 24-hour emergency hotline: 0870 55 55 999
Also see: 12/09/04: Two seal rescues this week signal the start of the new season