Is your pet a poser?
It’s that time of year again when animal lovers are being urged to send in their favourite pictures of their pets or any animal pictures – from dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, to donkeys, horses, chickens, ducks, geese, swans, goats, wildlife and everything and anything in between.
The best photographs will be shortlisted for a public vote to choose the cover of this year’s Cavan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) 2022 Calendar; while the 12 runners up will be the face of each month in the year.
A new Canon digital camera will be presented to the winner, sponsored by The Anglo-Celt.
Laura Reilly from Ballyjamesduff is a volunteer with the CSPCA and she explains that the proceeds of the sale of the calendar are vital in helping meet costs and continuing their important rescue work.
Fundraising events have been dramatically curtailed over the past year and a half as a result of the pandemic and restrictions, yet the Cavan SPCA’s work has continued.
“We have been unable to host our annual pub quizzes, dog walks and other fundraising events,” outlined Laura.
The situation has been exacerabed by the closure of their charity shop in Cavan Town over difficulties with the lease though it’s hoped the shop can reopen soon, though it may be in an alterative unit.
Laura says it’s more important than ever before. “It’s our main source of funding for this year. We can’t fundraise any other way and now with the shop closed as well,” she said, adding that bills continue to mount up.
The Cavan SPCA volunteers are optimistic that their activities will return to a more ‘normal’ footing next year. “From January 2022, we hope we can get back on track - back on track with fundraising, and all going well the shop will be reopened,” said Laura.
The costs for the charity in 2020 were in excess of €77,000 between veterinary fees (€26,136), animal care and feed (€32,726), and other fees and expenses such as travel and phone, insurance, accountants’ fees etc.
The charity sometimes gets government funding but it is never guaranteed. Donations can be made via paypal to the cavanspca@gmail.com account.
The CSPCA photo calendar competition is one of the most popular competitions run in The Anglo-Celt every year with hundreds of photos received.
Editor Linda O’Reilly says Cavan people are real animal lovers.
“The Anglo-Celt is proud to support Cavan SPCA, its selfless volunteers and we praise them for the wonderful work they do promoting animal welfare and saving animals who have been abandoned or mistreated.
“We also encourage people who are looking for a dog or cat or family pet to get in touch with the charity and give a ‘forever home’ in a pet in need.”She’s encouraging readers to send in their favourite pet and animal photos, particularly those with a seasonal theme, for consideration for inclusion in the calendar or for Christmas cards.To enter, see the advert below. The deadline is 12 noon on Wednesday, September 1, and entries are limited to four per person.Please do not send photos to The Anglo-Celt directly but to the email address on the advert below.A shortlist of the best entries will be compiled and published in the paper and on our website. Readers will be invited to vote for their favourite through the paper and online – with 50% of the marks assigned from each medium.The Cavan SPCA calendars will be printed later in the year and available for purchase in the usual outlets for just €7.
Happy snapping!
TO ENTER:
Email entries to: cavanspca@gmail.com before noon on Wednesday, September 1
Please remember:
• Photos of any animal(s) of a high quality resolution accepted
• Please do not send photos with emojis, text or people in them.
• Photos must be portrait shaped (deeper than wide).
• Please include with each entry your name, address and telephone number and the name of the animal if you know it
• Please rename photos with your name as the title
• Maximum four entries per person