The good work of an organisation that cares for animals

THE Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) is a non-profit organisation that has been in existence for more than 100 years.

This organisation was formed with a focus on seeing animals protected and cared for.

According to a document sent by the organisation, since 2000, the GSPCA has become a vibrant and active part of the community, championing the rights of animals in many forms, but not without the help of many volunteers who embody the spirit upon which the Society was founded.

Today, the GSPCA continues to be committed to providing low-cost health care to pet owners, educating the public on responsible care and treatment of pets, providing shelter to unwanted animals, providing humane euthanasia to injured and sick animals both within and outside the clinic and advocating for spaying and neutering to control the pet population and reduce instance of unwanted animals being strayed.

Services currently offered by the GSCPA
The GSCPA now offers the following services to the general populace: low-cost spaying/neutering, vaccination and de-worming treatment of minor injury/illness, re-homing/adoption services, animal cruelty investigations and boarding.

The document explained that the GSPCA receives an annual subvention from the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture to the tune of $723,000.
GSPCA’s other sources of income would include basic services administered at the clinic and shelter fundraising activities, along with donation boxes placed at various locations.

The Formation of GSPCA
The Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was known as the British Guiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was established in 1903 by a group of expatriate volunteers after witnessing the everyday ill-treatment and suffering experienced by animals in the streets of Georgetown and other areas of Guyana. These early animal rights crusaders had no building to operate from, so their work was carried out from their homes.

In 1953, mainly through the efforts of Mrs. Jean Wilson, assisted by her husband, who was an architect, the first building to house the BGSPCA’s Animal Clinic was erected. Following Guyana’s independence in 1966, the name was changed to The Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or GSPCA, as it is more familiarly known.

On the heels of Mrs. Wilson’s work, Mrs. Elsie Taylor steadfastly and tirelessly recruited volunteers. Her optimism and dedication paid off as, in 1992, a group of animal lovers with a desire to see animals protected and cared for accepted the positions to serve as GSPCA volunteers and eventually committee members of the GSPCA. By now, the Society was formally registered under Guyana’s Friendly Societies Act (Cap 36:04) and following the stipulations of these regulations, including holding regular Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and having audited financial statements.

In the year 2000, a new and modern building replaced the old clinic building. The newly-constructed clinic is equipped with animal boarding facilities, a surgical room, two treatment rooms, and a recovery room. There are also shelter facilities where animals awaiting adoption are housed in a waiting area and an office. The Animal Clinic and Shelter also has a fairly large yard area for exercise purposes for the animals.