Jersey's lieutenant governor will be going to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton
Electrical maintenance works costing about £10m are taking place in St Helier.
Bars and pubs in Jersey could open late over the Royal Wedding weekend if the States of Jersey approve the law change.
Doctors in Jersey are prescribing books from an agreed list to people dealing with psychological conditions.
States members are being petitioned over their decision to reduce the number of senators in Jersey.
Jersey's chief officer of health has said the general hospital needs significant refurbishment.
How the Battle of Flowers has changed
Links to other local news internet sites in Jersey
How to contact BBC News Interactive's Jersey team
Aurigny hopes a decision not to open an air route to Southampton to competition will be made permanent.
Everyone will be affected if building costs rise, which is likely if freight charge increases are agreed, according to one building firm.
Blue Islands is refused a licence to operate a passenger and freight service between Alderney and Southampton.
Guernsey's Fire and Rescue Service launches a campaign to recruit more retained firefighters.
A Guernsey politician calls for an exploration of the right to vote in island-wide elections to the people of Alderney.
Time is running out to find a solution for the island's waste, admits the deputy minister of Public Services.
The first fact-finding mission to occupied Guernsey
How to contact BBC News Interactive's Guernsey team
Links to other local news internet sites in Guernsey
13.02.12
With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's time to share the love and consider whether you could give a permanent and caring home to some perfect pairs of bunnies.
Our Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre has a number of rabbits in its care, all looking for caring and permanent homes and among these are some loved up bunny pairings.
Natalie James from the centre says:
Obviously a pet shouldn't be a Valentine's present, but something owners can care for during the rest of that animal's life. We would, however, like to encourage responsible members of the public who want rabbits to share the love this Valentine's and think about adopting some of our perfect bunny pairs!
Among these perfect pairings are Fenton and Madison.
Fenton is a ginger and black male rabbit who is around 12-18 months old and came into our care when he was abandoned. Madison, is a female black and grey rabbit, who born in our care last August.
Natalie said:
Fenton and Madison have been with us at Bryn-y-Maen for a few months now and came together as a pair. They absolutely adore each other and often snuggle up to sleep and groom one another. They have lovely temperaments and though they can be a little shy, they are friendly. Real sweethearts!
Also looking for a loving new home are Rupert and Penny. Another sweet couple who are often seen grooming each other and can be seen in the picture lovingly sharing a piece of hay!
Rupert has white patches and Penny is totally brown, a very handsome couple! 12 to 18-month-old Rupert has been with us since June having been abandoned with his mum and siblings, while Penny has been here since August after coming in as a stray/abandonment. They are both friendly and curious and it would be lovely to see them homed together!
If you're interested in giving either of these bunny pairs a loving and permanent home, contact:
Bryn-y-Maen Animal Centre
Tel: 0300 123 0745
e-mail: brynymaen@rspca.org.uk
To see more of the rabbits in our care looking for new homes visit our pet search.
Please remember that pet ownership takes time, money, commitment and patience - owning a pet is likely to change your life completely. Our rabbits pages can help you to understand the care that rabbits need.
14.02.12
This Valentine's Day, we're appealing to anyone thinking of getting a pet to please consider adopting an RSPCA rescue animal. Rescue animals can make wonderful pets, and through pet adoption you can make a real difference to an animal's life, which is extremely rewarding. Our rehoming process aims to make sure pets and owners are perfectly matched. So if you're looking for a lifelong companion, take a look at just some of the animals in our care in need of happy new homes and you could find your perfect match...
Four-year-old Bruno was in a bad way after he was abandoned by his previous owners. But he's in great condition now and would be an absolute joy to own. This handsome, intelligent lad is not only extremely well-behaved and house-trained, he is very affectionate, loyal and playful. Find out more about Bruno...
Since sharing a pen, cats Jeeves and Asia have found solace in each other and now to part them would simply break their hearts. Jeeves (white-and-black) and Asia (Siamese cross) are so sweet-natured but both are extremely shy. Have you room in your heart and home for this young gorgeous pair? Find out more about Jeeves and Asia
This beautiful elderly lady came into our care after she was clipped by a car and no-one came forward to claim her.
Tina is a Staffordshire bull terrier cross-breed. Typical of this breed, she is a real softie and absolutely adores human company and attention. At 12 years old, Tina is looking for a quiet home where she can spend her retirement years with someone willing to become her soulmate! Find out more about Tina
Two-year-old Tinker is a stunning long-haired tortoiseshell cat.
She was a stray for quite a while and so is a very independent lady. Being a fiery redhead, she can be a little bit bossy at times and so is seeking an understanding partner in life. She would be ideal for someone looking for a cat who doesn't need constant attention. Although deep down she enjoys a bit of a fuss! Find out more about Tinker
If Bruno, Jeeves and Asia, Tina or Tinker aren't for you, there are many more animals in our care hoping for their second chance at life.
Please remember that pet ownership takes time, money, commitment and patience - owning a pet is likely to change your life completely. Our pets pages can help you to understand the care that different types of animals need.
15.02.12
We are looking for foster carers for dogs being cared for at two of our animal centres, while their owners are being investigated for cruelty.
The dogs are being cared for at our Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, and at South Godstone Animal Centre, in Surrey.
The dogs are usually kept in the kennels while the cases go through court, but the process can take months and the dogs cannot be found new homes until the cases have finished.
We have begun a scheme where the dogs are cared for in people's homes instead of in kennels until the cases have finished and the dogs are found new permanent homes.
RSPCA animal welfare projects officer, Liz Andrews, said:
We are looking for experienced dog owners who are willing to take on a dog for a temporary period, understanding that they will have to give that dog back at the end so we can find him or her a loving new home.
The dogs need to be taken by the foster carer to see a vet every two weeks as part of the ongoing care while the investigation is carried out and the prosecution goes through court, but all expenses will be paid for by the RSPCA.
Foster carers can have their own pets at home if they get on with other dogs, but all other dogs at home must be neutered and vaccinated.
Liz added:
There are some things that people need to understand before they take on a foster dog. For instance, you can’t let them off the lead when you are out because they do still belong to someone else and we can’t lose the dogs. And there is always a small chance that we may lose the case and the dog be returned to its owner, so all these things have to be taken into consideration. But this is a wonderful thing to do, and really makes a huge difference to these dogs.
Potential foster carers will be visited at home by the RSPCA to talk about the role and will have to provide two references, ideally one will be from their current vet.
Would-be fosterers for Southridge Animal Centre should live within 15 miles of the animal centre in Potters Bar.
More information
Our animal welfare work wouldn’t be possible without you!
16.02.12
A female mallard duck in Worcester who became entangled in a plastic can holder and evaded capture for more than a month has been freed by a fellow mallard. We received many calls from concerned members of the public about the distressed bird, with the first report on 19 January. Rescue attempts by RSPCA officers and the local swan rescue failed because she was still mobile and able to fly, and concerns began to grow for her welfare. But as people were feeding the ducks at Gheluvelt Park in Worcester over the weekend, a drake stood on the plastic and off it came!
RSPCA spokesperson Judith Haw said:
We are delighted that the duck is now free from the litter, however the duck's distress and discomfort was completely unnecessary. We hope people will learn from this incident that a casually discarded piece of litter can have devastating consequences for wildlife.
Cutting the loops of plastic can holders before putting into a rubbish or recycling bin can help to prevent incidents like this and save an animal's life. Find out more ways you can help in our advice page - litter costs lives.
Duck entangled in litter evades capture - 31.01.12
17.02.12
A bedraggled badger that was difficult to distinguish due to being so badly caked in mud has been rescued by the RSPCA from a football net.
Discovered on the morning of Monday, 13 February, trapped in the net on school grounds at Henley-In-Arden High School in Warwickshire. The young male badger has now had a much-needed wash and is barely recognisable as the same animal.
The badger was tightly entangled in the netting but still displayed a natural defence instinct, baring his teeth when RSPCA Animal Collection Officer (ACO) Simon Dix approached!
Simon put the youngster on a grasper and carefully cut him free but as he wasn’t able to remove all the netting from his body he was transported to Vale Wildlife Hospital in Tewkesbury. Visit the website: Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre.
The netting was particularly tight around one of the badger’s front legs causing major swelling.
Under anaesthetic the netting was successfully removed and the badger received some pampering in the form of a warm shower.
Having received antibiotics and anti-inflammatory tablets the badger is coming on well.
It is hoped he will be released back to the wild within the week.
ACO Dix said:
This badger was in a really sorry state when I got to him and would have been unable to free himself without human help. He could have been struggling all weekend which might explain his unkempt condition. Netting such as goal nets pose a real hazard to our wildlife and sadly we get too many calls to injured wild animals that are trapped in them. There is a really simple way to prevent this from happening and that is for nets to be removed after use and safely stored away. When we attend a call where a wild animal has died in netting it is so tragic and entirely preventable.
Anyone who finds an injured or trapped wild animal can call our 24-hour cruelty line on 0300 1234 999.
We can't do it without you!
Please help us continue to do our vital rescue work - donate online.
18.02.12
This Lent, we're asking you to give up something you love for 40 days to help raise money for our Leaps and Bounds appeal. Launched in October 2011, our Leaps and Bounds appeal aims to raise £3 million in just one year to build the country's first ever flagship RSPCA animal centre and hospital in Birmingham. The new centre will provide fantastic specialist facilities for the animals that come into our care, seeing them right through from their rescue and rehabilitation to their eventual rehoming. It will replace the current animal centre and hospital at Barnes Hill which is now very old and struggling to meet the demands of the high numbers of animals that come through its doors.
So if your New Year's resolutions have fallen by the wayside, here's your chance to try again! This year the 40 days of Lent start on Wednesday, 22 February and end on Saturday, 7 April. But you don't have to do it for Lent. You can start your challenge whenever suits you. All you have to do is...
Not only will you see a healthier and fitter you, you'll be helping to raise much-needed funds for our Leaps and Bounds appeal at the same time.
Email us for your free RSPCA collection pot at: elockett@rspca.org.uk And then start making your daily donations. At the end of your 40 days, there are four easy ways to submit your donation to our Leaps and Bounds appeal.
And you can keep us updated on your progress at our Leaps and Bounds Facebook page or our Leaps and Bounds Twitter page.
20.02.12
We are appealing for good new homes for abandoned rabbits in Kent, including three whose ears are feared to have been cut off. Two of the poor bunnies are white and were found dumped in Quex Park in Thanet, Kent, on Friday, 10 February. One is missing half an ear and the other has both ears missing.
These two white rabbits were found along with a black rabbit who has both ears intact but had an infected eye. Then, on Saturday, 11 February, a brown rabbit was also found with both ears missing. The unfortunate foursome are currently being cared for by our Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Branch until new homes are found for them as our Isle of Thanet Branch had no room.
Cattery and small animals manager, Katie Harris, at our Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Branch said:
We can't be completely sure, but we think that someone may have deliberately cut off the rabbits' ears and dumped them. If so, this is an absolutely despicable thing to do to any animal and we would like to hear from anyone who thinks they might know who was responsible.
As well as seeking loving new homes for the rabbits in its care, our Tunbridge wells and Maidstone Branch desperately needs appropriate rabbit housing as the animals are currently in temporary housing. There is no room for any more rabbits likely to come into the branch's care over the next few weeks. Katie added:
We really need to make sure we have enough housing, including large hutches, shelters and exercise runs for these rabbits and any others we take in. Donations would be very welcome so we can continue to add to our rabbit accommodation. And of course if anyone thinks they can offer a permanent home to any of our rabbits we would also like to hear from them.
The branch currently has six rabbits ready for rehoming. As well as those mentioned above, Peter Rabbit, a brown lop-eared rabbit pictured right, is also looking for a new home. He was found in Mote Park in Maidstone earlier this month. So if you're thinking of getting a rabbit, please consider adopting two or more of these rescue rabbits. Bunnies are social animals which like to live in compatible pairs or groups. You can find out more about rabbits and the care they need in our pets pages.
Any donations of appropriate rabbit housing or money towards rabbit housing would be very much appreciated too. To adopt or donate, please contact: RSPCA Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Branch
Telephone: Katie Harris on 07595 997674
If you have any information at all about what happened to the abandoned earless rabbits, no matter how insignificant you think it might be, we'd really like to hear from you. Please call us in confidence on our 24-hour cruelty line: 0300 1234 999. Thank you.
21.02.12
This Pancake Day we're celebrating the fact that more than 50 per cent of eggs produced in the UK are now from cage-free hens, which makes for some flipping fabulous cage-free egg pancakes! It's a massive step forward for animal welfare, especially when you consider that in 1995 more than eight out of ten eggs (86 per cent) were laid by hens kept in cruel barren battery cages.
On the downside about 16 million hens in the UK are still kept in cages with less usable space than an A4 sheet of paper each. After years of waiting, an EU ban on conventional barren battery cages came into force on 1 January 2012. But so-called 'enriched' battery cages are still allowed.
And we mustn't forget that many of the eggs from caged hens are used in catering at restaurants or as ingredients in ready-made meals and food such as cakes, sandwiches and ice-cream. For Shrove Tuesday (21 February) supermarket shelves will be stocked with batter mix and ready-made pancakes, some of which could contain eggs laid by hens in cages.
Your shopping choices really do make a difference to the lives of millions of laying hens.
All egg boxes are labelled with how the hens were farmed. Always choose these labels:
The following supermarkets use cage-free eggs in their own brand products:
Or look out for the following ranges which all use cage-free eggs as ingredients:
To find out more, download our free guide:
Your guide to choosing cage-free eggs (2.81MB PDF)
Plus visit our laying hens campaign page where you'll find a tasty recipe for Rhubarb and Ginger Pancakes. We hope you have a flipping fabulous Pancake Day!
Over half of eggs from cage-free hens for first time! - 06.02.12
Public do not understand battery cage law survey reveals - 27.12.11
09.02.12
The Secretary of State for Defra and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State were given a first-hand view of the shocking impact of irresponsible dog ownership today, during a tour of an RSPCA animal hospital.
Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP was joined by Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE at our Harmsworth Animal Hospital, in north London, where they met hospital director David Grant and new RSPCA chief executive Gavin Grant for a tour of the facility.
Staff at Harmsworth Animal Hospital regularly work around the clock, treating dogs that have suffered as a direct result of irresponsible ownership, either through deliberate cruelty, neglect or from attacks by other dogs not under proper control.
Last year vets at Harmsworth treated 285 dogs for fighting injuries, compared to 258 in 2010, showing an already serious problem is escalating further.
The government ministers saw for themselves some of the animals being treated at the hospital during their tour.
Hospital director David Grant said:
Since I started working here 25 years ago I’ve always been amazed by some of the appalling cases of cruelty and neglect I’ve come across, but I would say the problem of irresponsible ownership is as bad now as I have ever seen. I’ve treated dogs that have been stabbed, kicked, punched, and burned with cigarettes. I even recently had to operate on a dog that had been smashed in the face with a glass bottle, not to mention thousands of innocent animals that have been attacked by other dogs which have been deliberately used as weapons by their owners. I think it is vital that to find the solution the politicians need to understand the problem. I sincerely hope by showing them what we deal with here, the Secretary of State and Minister were able to see for themselves the often appalling impact irresponsible dog ownership can have on animal welfare.
Dogs have very complex needs so looking after them well can be challenging. Insight into the biology and behaviour of dogs can help you understand your pet’s needs better, so why not check out our dog factfile to learn more.
Find out more about how we're working to improve dog ownership.
22.02.12
The RSPCA has joined forces with the UK’s largest mail auditing company, Postal Audits, to help tackle the problem of how to deal with 'dangerous' dogs.
The company, that provide mail auditing, measurement and postal consultancy services, have donated £20,000 to help fund a role within our companion animal science department, to look at how to work with dogs with aggression or other behavioural problems.
At first the research will be used to help staff and volunteers working with animals in rescue and rehoming centres, but in the long term we hope the advice can be used by anyone coming into contact with dogs on a daily basis – such as postmen, district nurses, utility workers, home care and social workers.
Derek Fairhurst, managing director of Postal Audits said:
The startling fact is that at least eight people have been killed in the last four years, and over 200 more have been seriously injured by dogs. What we also see in our line of work is the staggering number of postal workers who are injured – around 6,000 a year. That is why we have funded this work with the RSPCA to try and tackle the problem head on.
The RSPCA is often the one left picking up the pieces when people fail to train and socialise their dogs properly. Irresponsible dog ownership leads directly to abandonments; injuries to both dogs and humans and a rise in so-called status dogs – where owners buy dogs that make them look tough or that can be used for fighting.
James Yeates, head of the RSPCA’s companion animal department said:
It is heart-breaking to have to deal with the fall-out of poor dog ownership and this donation will help us make a real difference to tackling this problem. We know that dogs can show aggression because they feel threatened or have had negative experiences in the past, so we hope that this vital research will help protect both animals and humans in the future.
Scientific officer Jenna Kiddie has already started work at the RSPCA and has been out and about working with dogs in our centres across the country.