Background into our volunteering and why we did it!
On Thursday 21st April, Charlie and Erin from our office volunteered at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital in Horsham, Sussex. They’re an organisation which help sick or injured animals before being released into the wildlife. On the day, the animals G&K Heating staff took care of were hedgehogs. The duties included cleaning their cages, feeding and giving them water. All of these necessities allowed the hedgehogs to feel comfortable enough and eventually be able to go back into the wildlife. G&K really enjoyed looking after the animals and would definitely volunteer again at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Hospital.
This was all to align with our charity of the month for April, Fauna & Flora International. They are the world’s oldest international wildlife conservation organisation. They have been quietly shaping and influencing conservation practice since our foundation in 1903. Their focus is on protecting biodiversity for our planet, which underpins healthy ecosystems and is critical for the life-support systems that humans and all other species rely on.
It’s a charity close to our General Manager, Shelly’s heart as Tigers are her mum’s favourite animal and the charity do such a great job in protecting Tiger’s from extinction worldwide. April marks the anniversary of her mum’s passing in 2017. Shelly completed 3900 squats, that’s 130 squats a day! As if she didn’t think that was difficult enough, she also gave up sugar for the entire month as well.
What some of our other office staff gave up in April:
Kyle: Sugar
Jason: Sugar and chocolate
Charlie: Chocolate, crisps and sweets
Erin: Coffee
What to do if you see a sick or injured wild animal?
Be careful
If you see a wild animal that looks in any discomfort, be careful when handling them. Confront them slowly and wear thick gloves if possible. This will lower the risk of catching any diseases, especially if they bite you.
Getting the animals with a towel
If you place a towel over the animal, it’ll stop them from being able to get away and they can get the care they need. If you don’t have a towel with you another suggestions you could consider are using jumpers and coats instead. If you can get a sturdy box with holes, then this is the best option to make sure you can transport the animal safely to the vet or wildlife hospital.
Contact a wildlife hospital or vet
You must contact a vet or wildlife hospital as soon as possible so the wild animal can receive the right treatment promptly, this will give the animal the best chance of survival. The animal organising will give you instructions of how to effectively take them to the destination and how to do it safely.
Do not feed or give the animal water
It’s not a good idea to give them any food as you may not know the condition the animal is in and might make them worse.
How to tell if an animal is distressed, sick or injured?
· Blood anywhere on its body or any wounds
· Limping by dragging its legs along the ground
· Not moving at all
· Breathing heavily
· Shaking movements
· Low posture
· Panting or crying
Get in contact with the animal organisation and ask if the signs you’re seeing from the animal could be that they’re in pain.
Animal hospitals near you (Sussex):
RSCPA: Brighton, 01273 554218
Rangers Lodge Hospital: Horsham, 01403 379446
Brent Lodge Wildlife Hospital: Chichester, 01243 641672
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service: Lewes, 0300 102 6999
It’s not too late, you can still donate to our Just Giving page below:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gandk-heating-ltd3
G&K Heating help other local charities in the community every month so make sure you are following us on our social media platforms below!