Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals

AISPA
Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
ANNUAL REPORT
June 2011 - May 2012
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The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
Registered Office: 30-34 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6BJ
Founder
COMMENDATORE LEONARD T. HAWKSLEY
President
RALEIGH TREVELYAN
Patrons
Lady Bischoff
Katie Boyle
Lady Clarke
H.E. Signor Alain Giorgio Maria Economides
Marilyn Hawksley Lowman
Ian S. MacPhail
The Viscount Norwich
Prince Jonathan Doria Pamphilj
Julian Pettifer
Lady Richardson
Executive Officers
Chairman - William Richards M.A.
Hon. Treasurer - Crispin Salimbeni M.A.
Executive Committee
Dr P. Credland Bsc. PhD. F.R.E.S.
Mrs E. Dale
E. Fuller
M. Pampanini M.A. Vet MB M.R.C.V.S.
E.G.C. Hulbert O.B.E.
Dr J.A. Knight B. Vet Med. M.R.C.V.S.
Mrs A. Richards
Mrs K. Ulvert B.A.
Mrs C. Pugsley
A. Norman-Butler
Veterinary Representatives in Italy
Representative in Italy
Dr Malcolm Holliday, Arezzo
Angela Revel-Chion, Turin
Dr Dorothea Friz, Castel Volturno
Dr Maira Segueglia, Castiglione Del Lago
Secretary
Susan Dale
Assistant Secretary
Andy Geddes
AISPA-The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
30-34 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6BJ
Tel/Fax: 01743 232559
e-mail: info@aispa.org.uk
www.aispa.org.uk
A Company Limited by Guarantee
Registered in England No. 335703
Registered Charity No. 208530
Anglo-Italian Society
for the Protection of Animals
The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals (AISPA) is a British-based
charity that raises funds worldwide to help animal welfare projects in Italy.
Our voluntary veterinary representatives in Italy work closely with these projects
offering advice and support. They also liaise with local authorities and government
agencies, to try and bring about lasting improvements in animal welfare.
AISPA:
• Provides financial help to animal
shelters
• Funds a mobile spay clinic
programme
• Funds stray sterilization programmes
• Sponsors veterinary training
• Funds medicines and surgical
equipment
• Supports education and training
programmes
• Donates rescue vehicles
Our aim is to reduce stray populations
and improve conditions for many
domestic and wild animals. We are
only able to do this because of the
generous support of those who care
about animals and birds.
AISPA – Working in Italy
providing care and protection
1
SECRETARY’S REPORT
Dear Supporters
Your continued generosity enables AISPA to regularly support many animal
sanctuaries throughout Italy. Our aim is to always offer consistent funding on
an annual basis.
Our voluntary representatives in Italy, Dr Malcolm Holliday, Dr Dorothea Friz,
Angela Revel-Chion and Dr Maira Segueglia offer their experience and
guidance to both the Society and to the animal welfare organisations that we
support. It is no exaggeration to say that AISPA’s work would be impossible
without them.
We are of course also indebted to all the staff and volunteers who run the
projects in Italy.
Thank you for your generous donations to AISPA during the year and in
particular to our Annual Appeal. All six featured projects were fully sponsored
and the new ‘matched funding’
sterilization initiative for 2012 has
been very successful. Our ‘matched
funding’ has helped further reduce
the stray population which remains
one of our biggest challenges (see
page 5).
We appreciate your letters of
support and encouragement and
hope that you enjoy reading about
the many projects AISPA helps.
With very best wishes
Susan Dale
Susan Dale
Secretary
Susan Dale with cat trap donated to AISPA
2
EVENTS
Supporter Margaret Rushton
raises funds for AISPA
Following an inspiring visit to their
sanctuary many years ago, Margaret raises
funds for the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
in Rome via AISPA.
Margaret Rushton at her stall
She attends a monthly flea market where
she has her own stall. Last year Margaret
raised £2,500 and over the last 3 years,
she has raised an amazing £9,300 for us!
AISPA supporter Andrea Hunt helps raise funds for Dr
Dorothea Friz’s spay and neuter centre ‘Lega pro
Animale’, near Naples
Andrea is always keen to participate in an annual run or activity and raise
funds at the same time. Last autumn she decided to do a sponsored dog walk.
Andrea says; “My gorgeous dog Asia and I took part in a sponsored dog walk
to raise much needed funds for Lega Pro Animale via AISPA. Funds raised went
towards Dorothea’s next Spay Day for strays. The staff do a brilliant job and are
totally dedicated to animal welfare and reducing the stray problem”.
Andrea raised £1,500 including Gift Aid for
Lega Pro Animale. She used the AISPA online
‘Just Giving’ fund raising page to make it easier
for friends and family to donate.
We would like to thank Peggy, Mike, Margaret
and Andrea for their valuable support which is
very much appreciated by us and our friends in
Italy.
It’s really easy for you to raise money for us by
creating an online fundraising page on ‘Just
Giving’. It takes just a few minutes and you can collect donations for any
sponsored event. Just go to: www.justgiving.com/aispa
Asia
If you have any questions, or need any help, contact Andy at the AISPA office.
3
EVENTS
AISPA supporters Peggy and Mike Hunt who live in
Italy help raise funds for Elizabeth Buracchi’s ‘Refuge
la Speranza’ in Arezzo
Raising funds over Lunch
AISPA supporters Susan and Richard Kent
left Italy to be closer to their family in the
UK. However before she left Susan made
sure that the fund raising efforts would
continue by recruiting several friends to
follow in her footsteps. The first initiative
was to raise funds for new kennel gates at
Elizabeth’s rescue centre. It was
suggested that when a group of friends
dine with each other, they donate 10
euros instead of giving their hosts the
usual gifts of wine, flowers or chocolates.
The first of these charity lunches was held
in the summer and raised 157 euros.
Everyone had a marvellous time and
several more of these lunches followed.
AISPA Coffee Morning
This event was held on 4th of July at Locanda delle Rose near Citta della Pieve
and the weather was glorious despite worries at the weekend that rain would
stop play. The very generous attendees raised 310 euros. Special thanks for this
success should go to the
ladies who baked; the raffle
and those who contributed
their time and made the effort
to enjoy this social occasion.
We raised a total of 467 euros
towards new kennel gates at
Elizabeth’s refuge and we are
most grateful that AISPA were
able to match it.
4
EVENTS
Matched funding Sterilization Initiative 2012
You may recall that we announced in last year’s Annual Report that we wanted
to develop further spay and neuter initiatives and decided to launch a
‘matched funding’ programme for 2012, asking you to donate a minimum of
£250 that we would match. The extra funding did not affect our normal
funding to any sanctuary. This idea was carried forward into this year’s Annual
Appeal and has proved a great success!
Our supported sanctuaries have been able to carry out more spay and neuter
programmes this year as a direct result of your support. Typically a “Spay Day”
event costs around 1,000 Euros but smaller scale work is also carried out and
supported by this initiative.
The two principal beneficiaries of this initiative have achieved the following
this year (up to publication date of the Annual Report).
Lega pro Animale (LPA) - Naples
Total sterilizations to date = 3,854 (2011: 3,352)
Torre Argentina (TA) - Rome
Total sterilizations to date = 3,620 (2011:3,328)
One of our biggest challenges in Italy is reducing the stray population and we
thank all our supporters who generously helped this initiative.
5
NEWS FROM ITALY
AREZZO
Rifugio per Gatti ’Cinni’
Dr Malcolm Holliday & Bunny Holliday
Our voluntary representative Dr Malcolm Holliday manages
this Cat Sanctuary which opened in May 2005. AISPA sends
donations to help with the general running costs.
Malcolm sent us the following report:
The ‘Cinni’ refuge is providing excellent care for its cats. The staff are
enthusiastic and we have all learnt a lot about running a cattery in the last
seven years. AISPA’s support has been vital in developing this project.
I would like to tell you a story about one of our cats called Topo.
Last spring friends of mine, Gianni and Sabrina from Rome came to stay with me
for a few days together with their two small children. The children had heard of
‘Cinni’ and were very anxious to go and see the cats there.
Amongst the cats, some curious of our presence, some shy, there was one grey
and white cat whose name is Topo. He only has three legs following a road
accident, but this did not stop him from following Gianni around all the time.
Gianni started to stroke him and soon it was clear to me that between Topo and
Gianni there was a special connection.
A few days later when my friends were ready to leave, Gianni expressed a desire
to return to the cattery to say goodbye to Topo. When we returned, Topo could
not be seen anywhere. Gianni started to call him by his name and after only two
or three calls, Topo came racing from where he was hiding to greet Gianni as if
they had known each other forever. At
that precise moment, it became clear
to Gianni that Topo would became
part of their family and with a voice
broken with emotion he asked me,
“Can we take him home with us?”
It is nearly a year now since Topo has
lived in Pomezia (near Rome). He is a
very happy cat with his new family
and returns effusively all the love
shown to him.
Topo and Gianni
6
AREZZO
Refuge la Speranza – Elizabeth Buracchi
Elizabeth Buracchi has lived in Italy for over 40 years and she
has dedicated her life to caring for animals, particularly dogs.
Many of the dogs that
come to her are very
frightened and malnourished. Some have
been beaten; many have changed owners
numerous times. This is often the case with
hunting dogs, which are frequently
exchanged or abandoned. Many have been
kept in terrible conditions, often caged
throughout the summer when there is no
hunting.
Once they arrive at Elizabeth’s, the dogs are
treated very gently and quietly and
gradually she gains their confidence. After a
period of rehabilitation she seeks to have
them adopted.
Elizabeth Buracchi & Dr Holliday
All her veterinary work is carried out by Dr
Malcolm Holliday, AISPA’s representative,
who fortunately lives nearby.
Elizabeth would like to thank AISPA’s supporters whose generosity enables her to
rescue these dogs from their unhappiness and terrible conditions.
Malnourished hunting dog arrives at Refuge la Speranza
7
CASTEL VOLTURNO, near Naples
Lega Pro Animale and Fondazione
Mondo Animale Onlus
Dr Dorothea Friz
Dorothea Friz is AISPA’s representative in Southern Italy. She
runs a spay and neuter centre and a mobile clinic.
Dorothea writes:
In March 2012 the mobile spay
clinic and a small truck, both
vehicles donated by AISPA, set
out to do further work on the
Tremiti Islands.
This time we caught 116 cats in
total (58 female and 58 male).
We operated on all the unneutered cats, treated them for
fleas, de-wormed them and
released them.
The mobile spay clinic leaves the ferry boat
on the Island of San Domino. In the
background the Island of San Nicola
The TV team of ‘Striscia la Notizia’
visited the islands during our stay,
and helped us catch and release the cats. There is a video clip of our work on the
AISPA Facebook page.
Shortly before we left, somebody dropped off an injured bird that nobody on the
island could identify. Someone told me later that it was a very rare breed close to
extinction (Tarabuso). There are
only 60 of them left in the
entire country of Italy and I’m
pleased to say it was released
after treatment.
I would like to say a big thank
you to AISPA and all its
supporters for their continued
support for the LPA Centre
and the mobile clinic.
Dorothea operating in
mobile clinic
8
Ambra checks if the
anaesthesized cat is
already sleeping
The harbour cat of San Nicola
entered the trap, attracted by
a gigantic fish!
Ambra and Lorenzo release the
operated cats one day after
surgery
The LPA vets Ambra, Lorenzo
and Dorothea with Ester from
the Island of San Nicola
9
FLORENCE
Marta & Guido Cecchi and the colonies of Florence
Marta and Guido Cecchi support ten cat colonies in and
around the city of Florence. The colonies are all managed by
volunteers.
AISPA supporter Lyn Newton kindly sent us this article:
I’ve been visiting Florence for several years and met the Cecci’s through AISPA.
One of the things that is most notable about them is how organised they are.
Three times a week Marta Cecci and her husband Guido gather together food
which they have cooked and prepared, food they have bought, plus litter for trays
and cleaning materials. They put these into the back of their car and set off for
various cat colonies, each of which they visit once a week.
There is the one in the disused Maccelli Abbatoire near the Viale Corsica towards
the north of Florence, where there are 30-35 cats. Then, there’s the waste ground
just off Via Faentina Sotto Fiesole, where Bella, a beautiful long-haired grey cat,
waits at the gate on the lookout for them. Some of the cats are very shy; you can
see them hiding in the bushes. You are aware that they are there, and interested
in what’s going on, but they’ll remain hidden until Marta and Guido leave.
The couple also take provisions to people like Daisy, who has been looking after
a cat colony of 40 cats in Bella Riva on the outskirts of the city. They also support
Giovanna Fulceri, who has spent many years taking care of a colony of cats at the
Careggi Hospital.
The main funds the Cecci’s
receive are from AISPA. I
know how very grateful
they are for the continued
financial support and for the
morale boost of knowing
that there are so many
people in Britain backing
the work they do. They
would like to thank the
AISPA team and all their
supporters very much for
their generosity.
Marta and Guido Cecchi with
Dr Malcolm Holliday (centre)
10
MONTECATINI TERME – New Project
Cats Onlus
Carolyn Martin, a volunteer at Cats Onlus, contacted AISPA in
spring 2011, seeking our support for their spay and neuter
project in the Val di Nievole area of Tuscany.
Carolyn sent the following report:
We became associated with
AISPA in July 2011 and have
benefited enormously from
their regular contributions.
Susan Dale and Dr Dorothea
Friz have been invaluable
resources for us.
This group was formally
constituted in March 2011 to
support the efforts of two
women who have been
working for the welfare of cats
for the past 20 years.
Maria
Barbagli
began
sterilizing cats that had been
Monica Monti and Maria Barbagli, the heart and
abandoned near Prato
soul of Cats onlus
hospital where she worked.
Maria then became an official ‘gattara’ when she moved to the Val di Nievole
area in 2003.
Monica Monti began her work in 1983 as a volunteer at the private ‘Hermada’
Dog Shelter in Montecatini Terme, where she was responsible for the care of
stray cats and the hand rearing of abandoned kittens. In 2000 this structure
came under the umbrella of the Association Amici degli Animali. While it has
never had the function of a cattery, the needs of the feline population were
taken into consideration and a colony was established nearby. Other colonies
also became part of her responsibilities.
In 1999 the paths of these two women crossed and they combined their efforts
for the well-being of the feline population in the larger area around where they
lived and worked. Relying on their own resources and with the help of friends
and volunteers, they have regularly and constantly sterilized cats but have
relied upon private vets due to the poor service of the state veterinary
department.
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CATS onlus has the intention not only to reduce the number of stray animals,
and to improve their health and living conditions but also create a better
relationship with the local people. We have noticed a change of attitude towards
strays that are spayed/neutered and cared for, whereas they had previously been
chased away and generally disliked.
We have noted that the welfare of strays often falls on the population of elderly
women who willingly take in a stray, only to find they have kittens within a short
time. Then suddenly they have a colony on their hands, which they do not have
the means to sterilize nor care for. It is almost impossible to have any groups
recognised as official colonies if they form on private property. We choose to also
work with these people to stop the formation of new colonies.
The sterilization of individual local cats is a constant activity, while specific
groups have also been targeted in different locations. In Pontito, a hill top town
about 20kms from Pescia, a group of 12 cats were captured with the help of
Signora Ida on behalf of an elderly cat lover. In San Quirico a smaller group has
now been stabilised. In Lamporecchio 8 cats were captured and sterilised over a
period of weeks and great jubilation was felt by all when the last, most difficult
female was finally in our hands. In Serra Pistoiese several residents have
contacted us for help with stray cats, who they were willing to feed but whose
numbers needed controlling. This is a huge change of mentality and we were
delighted to hear from them.
Since we have started keeping statistics in September last year 278 cats have been
sterilized and 40 have been adopted.
From left: Monica, Carolyn, Michael, Cristina and Maria
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MONTAIONE
Italian Horse Protection Association (IHP)
IHP is the first and only recognised rescue centre in Italy for
mistreated horses. They were a new project for AISPA in 2010.
Sonny Richichi sent us this report about two street races:
In 2011 we launched a campaign to ban street horse races (Palio) in Italy.
Unfortunately, in July 2011 yet another horse died in a street race, this time at
the Palio di Siena, the most famous race of this kind in Italy. A horse called
‘Messi’ smashed into the barriers erected alongside the track and never
recovered from her injuries. This outrage pushed us to start a campaign to end
all such ‘entertainments’.
The ‘Palio di Siena’ is held twice a year and is a race with a very long history. The
horses in the race each represent the various quarters of the city (the ‘Contrade’).
The event is organised by the municipality of Siena which is also the major
shareholder in Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the third largest bank in Italy and the
biggest sponsor of the event.
The race consists of three laps around the central square of the city, covered, for the
purpose of the event, with sand. All the horses are the property of the Municipality
and are assigned randomly to the ‘Contrade’ a few days before the race.
In past centuries each horse was owned by a member of the ‘Contrada’ who
would also ride it in the race. The horse was a working farm animal. Nowadays
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the horses are not working farm animals but race horses. The jockeys are
professionals coming from different parts of Italy. If their horse wins, the
‘Contrada’ will pay the jockey a large sum of money. All of this has contributed
to a steady increase in the overall speed of the race and a corresponding decrease
in the care for the animal.
The event is attended by thousands of people who stand packed into the centre
of the square which is broadcast live by the main, state-owned, TV channel.
The critical points of this race are two sharp bends, one of which lies at the end
of a downward slope. The two bends (the San Martino and the Casato curve) have
a stone pillar at their apex, forming a very sharp angle. Most of the accidents that
happen during the races are caused by these two pillars and many of the horses
involved in those accidents have either died immediately or have had to be put
down due to their injuries.
According to official records, 49 horses have died or have had to be put down in
the last 72 races. These figures do not include horses injured during the race, or
the pre-race trials about which nothing is known.
Any question to the organisers about the fate of the horses involved in accidents,
has gone unanswered or has been answered in an extremely vague way, making
it difficult to verify any facts.
The ‘Ronciglione Palio’ is another race but this is one of rider-less horses through
the centre of the town of Ronciglione, in the Viterbo area, about 70km north of
Rome.
As with the Siena Palio, the races turn into a kind of city-quarter fight. The nine
‘stables’ of the city each present two horses to compete in two days of races.
The race starts in the Municipal building square and follows the main road
through the City centre. The horses, which are iron shod, race directly on the
asphalt and flagstones, and there are no adequate protective barriers. The crowd
yells and screams to make the horses
gallop faster on the unforgiving hard
surface.
Two palio races are held each year,
one in the summer and one in the
winter. The majority of accidents
occur during the winter race, which is
run at carnival time, when, apart from
the basic unsuitability of the route, the
ground is frequently wet and therefore
very slippery. The most critical points
14
are the stretch through the narrow ‘Porta Romana’ and the so-called ‘Gricio
bend’, a 45 degree turn going uphill between houses. Usually at least one horse
slips and falls at this point.
In early 2011, the Minister for Health refused authorisation for the race, mainly
on the grounds that there was no appropriate covering laid down over the roads.
Two days before the race, the traditional carnival parade had to be cancelled due
to heavy rain. In spite of authorisation being refused, and in spite of the fact that
the rains had made the roads even more dangerous than usual, the organisers
went ahead with the race anyway, and in one of the subsequent accidents a mare
named Tiffany died, slamming into one of the barriers.
IHP reported the organisers for mistreatment and causing the death of animals. A
few weeks later, some supporters of an animal welfare association, the
‘Co-ordinamento Antispecista’ of Lazio, were verbally attacked and physically
threatened by the locals while trying to erect a plaque in memory of the dead horse.
The Mayor of Ronciglione declared that the race will take place again and said
“No-one will touch our traditions”.
These races are just two of the hundreds of horse races held every year in the
streets of Italian villages and small cities.
IHP is committed to putting an end to this tradition of using animals in these local
events.
We would like to thank AISPA for their continued and valuable support.
15
16
The Ronciglione Palio route
ROME
The Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
AISPA has been a leading supporter of this unique sanctuary
since 1994. Torre Argentina continues to assist approximately
45 colonies around Rome with sterilizations and food. The
sanctuary which is run by Silvia Vivani and Lia Dequel is
situated in the historic centre of the city. It is one of the few shelters in Italy
that benefits from international tourism. You are most welcome to visit if you
are in Rome, please contact them in advance so that you can be met and given
a special tour of the sanctuary. (Tel/fax number: 0039 06 454 25240 or email
torreargentina@tiscali.it).
We are grateful to Karen Cortese, a longstanding volunteer, for the following
report:
You may recall that last year I mentioned the possibility of a tram line being
diverted to a street that runs above our shelter. Every now and again an article in
‘La Cigna’
17
the newspaper caused us to worry, but we have never yet received official word
about the project. This makes it difficult for us to plan for the future.
What we do know about the future is that soon one of our most dedicated cat
catchers is about to bring in her 1000th cat for sterilization! We would like to pay
tribute to her by telling you more about this person and her unusual activity!
Paola Cigna, or as we call her, ‘La Cigna’, (the Swan) is petite and apparently frail
but do not let her appearance fool you: she is tough, dedicated, determined and
a very capable cat catcher!
She has collaborated with Lia and Silvia since the creation of the Torre Argentina
Cat Sanctuary. She says that she is the ‘gattara’ of the historical centre of Rome
because she is passionate about culture. It is a special experience to trap cats
here; her job requires great patience and there is no better place than the centre
of Rome to sit, enjoy the view, have a coffee and a smoke while waiting for a
hard- to-get-cat to enter the trap.
People who happen to notice ‘La Cigna’ going down the stairs of Torre Argentina,
back and forth with dozens of traps holding smelly unsterilized cats, would not
believe that this lady is not only an expert cat catcher but also very
knowledgeable about culture in general. She is also very much at home in the
Opera House where she could stand in for any artist since she knows practically
all the scores by heart!
Whenever a tourist has seen a cat in a
precarious position near, in or on a historical
monument, ‘La Cigna’ will be called to trap
the cat. She has trapped cats in the
Colosseum, Theatre of Marcello, Temple of
Vesta, and wherever there are ruins. Although
she likes these places best, the huge and often
tragic stray cat problem on the outskirts of the
city is a challenge for her too.
Every time ‘La Cigna’ has captured her 100th
cat for sterilization, she always brings in a
cake to celebrate. This is a tradition that we
volunteers look forward to!
We are, as always, very grateful to AISPA and
its supporters for their continuing and
precious help, our success and our results are
yours too!
In 2011, Torre Argentina organised the sterilizion of 3,328 cats in Rome.
18
TRIESTE
Associazione Il Gattile
This group is headed by George Cociani, who is the President
and founder. They have two catteries, one in the centre of
Trieste and the other just outside the city. They also care for the
many cat colonies in the area.
After 15 years of dedication to reduce the
population of feral and stray cats in the province of
Trieste, many Triestines have come to trust, admire,
and support Il Gattile. So much so, that in 2004 the
municipality, allocated land on the outskirts of
town for a much needed cat sanctuary to be
managed by Il Gattile. Today, it hosts about 160
cats that are temporarily relocated from situations,
such as construction sites.
Kathy Hisamatsu, one of the Gattile’s volunteers
sent us the following report:
A chorus of hungry cats is how the day begins at Il
Gattile. Luckily for us, the ruckus in the internal
Kathy Hisamatsu and George
courtyard doesn't bother the neighbours in the
Cociani (front) with volunteers
apartment buildings adjacent to us. Il Gattile is
located in the city centre just behind the courthouse and there is even one wall
shared with the city's jailhouse.
A typical day at Il Gattile is not only cleaning and feeding. Our volunteers speak
with visitors, adopters, cat guardians, and admit cats. They lend out traps, accept
donations, and talk with potential new volunteers while handing them a broom!
Kitten season (from May to October) saw new energy in foster caring. One
particular volunteer fostered 30 kittens during the year!
The association has been active in promoting the refuge. We held ten benefit
tables, organized the yearly ‘Mici Amici Show’ at the local theatre in February and
were showcased at the Post Office museum during the exhibit of Cat Stamps
(Gattobolli). At the end of the year, Mr. Cociani and the head vet Catalan were
interviewed for a regional animal TV programme.
Since the sterilization programs began in 1994, the urban stray cat population has
drastically reduced, up to 65%. And the work continues!
We also had a major renovation, installing 50 new regulation cages. We thank
AISPA for their contribution towards this project!
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TURIN
Nata Libera – Angela Revel-Chion
Angela Revel-Chion is one of AISPA’s representatives in Italy.
She runs an animal rehabilitation centre in the hills above Turin
and helps many species of animals in distress; offering a 24
hour rescue service. Angela also organises educational visits to
the centre by local school children.
Angela sent us the following report:
Here are some of the rescues made by Nata Libera during the year.
TIP TAP – A female roe deer was
brought to the centre in the spring,
hunters had shot the mother and left the
baby deer in the forest. Tip Tap had to be
fed with a tiny syringe for 3 weeks, and
then bottle fed until September. We
built a special enclosure keeping her
distant from humans ready for release.
THE HAPPY TRIO – A trio of mallards
were found walking along the main
road in the middle of traffic! We
Tip Tap
discovered that their wing feathers had
been cut to stop them flying away. We housed them in a large aviary at the centre
until the wing feathers reappeared. Fortunately, we have a nature park with a
beautiful lake nearby that is protected from hunters and we were able to safely
release ‘the happy trio’.
THE FAMOUS FIVE – Five baby hedgehogs were found sitting on top of their
mum at the side of the road, the mum had been unfortunately run over by a
vehicle. The hedgehogs had to be bottle fed and a special tunnel was built to give
them access directly to the forest when we felt they were ready to go.
Nata Libera supporter and silver medal athlete, Elizabetta Perrone, organised a
half marathon which took place in the forest around the centre. The event which
attracted 200 participants was a great success and raised much needed funds for
us. During the day we sold lots of t-shirts and registered new members for Nata
Libera.
I would like to thank AISPA and you its supporter’s for all your help. We have been
able to rescue many animals and release them back into their natural
environment.
20
VENICE
The Anglo-Venetian Group for the Protection of Stray
Animals (DINGO)
This association cares for a total of around 500 stray cats. Many
are in colonies around the city and the inhabited islands and
around 150 are at their shelter at Malamocco on the Lido. Their
volunteers also operate a successful sterilization programme. When Dingo started
in 1965 there were estimated to be 12,000 stray cats on the streets of Venice now there are only around 2,000. They find homes for hundreds of cats every year
and the adopting owners are carefully chosen and monitored.
Dr Dorothea Friz and Lidia Pellegrini
Lidia Pellegrini sent us this report on their activity over the past year:
I joined the team of volunteers at the Malamocco cat shelter at the beginning of
2011, at a time when several changes were taking place among volunteers and
staff. I am very happy to say that, after a period of adjustment, we are now a small
but enthusiastic and energetic group of people. Together with our long standing
volunteer Mariagrazia; we have become a closely knit team.
21
Financial challenges are affecting every aspect of life and Italy is no exception.
Cuts to public funding have meant that the contribution from the local council
has not increased since 2001. Food prices, materials and the cost of medicine
have increased substantially. Fortunately, thanks to the generous support of AISPA
our sterilization programme at the shelter has continued uninterrupted, as well as
being able to cover all the colonies of the Lido and Pellestrina islands.
I am pleased to say that the overall number of cats present in the cat shelter has
decreased substantially. We have increased the number of adoptions this year and
all of the kittens brought to the shelter have found a new home. We must thank
some of our volunteers like Donata who have been fostering the weakest kittens
until they were ready for adoption. Moreover, by encouraging people not to look
for just kittens, we have found good homes also for several adult cats. But mostly,
we have increased whenever possible, the number of cats returning to their
original colonies after sterilization or veterinary care, due to a better management
of the colonies. Finally we have been actively seeking suitable new homes for
unwanted or abandoned house cats before they were brought to the shelter.
We are making every possible effort, always with an eye on the finances, to
maintain a safe, tidy and pleasant environment both for our feline guests, visitors
and workers.
We would like to thank AISPA and their members for their continued support over
the last year, especially for allowing us to keep an excellent standard of veterinary
care.
22
AISPA was able to help in the following ways…
BRESCIA - Telefono Difesa
Animali – New Project
AISPA assisted them with their
sterilization programme and
food
CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO
Dr Maira Sgueglia
AISPA funds an ongoing
sterilization programme run by
our voluntary representative
Maira
COMO - Associazione Cavalli del Bisbino – New Project
AISPA assisted
them with their
veterinary bills
and food
23
AISPA was able to help in the following ways…
CREMONA – Associazione
Protezione Animali
AISPA funded their sterilzation
programme and veterinary bills
FAENZA – Ente Nazionale
Protezione Animali
AISPA funded a new rescue
vehicle
FANO – Il Graffio
AISPA assisted them with their
sterilization campaign
24
AISPA was able to help in the following ways…
FLORENCE
Cani di Carla
AISPA funded food and
medicines
FOLLONICA – Associazione “Gli aMici di Mariella”
AISPA assisted them with
their veterinary bills and
food
LIVORNO/CECINA
Associazione Mici Felici
AISPA funded food,
medicines and veterinary
bills
25
AISPA was able to help in the following ways…
PALERMO – Lega Nazionale
per la Difesa del Cane
AISPA has assisted them in the
rebuilding of the kennels and
their sterilization programme
ROME – Verano Cemetery Cats
Association Animal Welfare
AISPA has funded building work,
food and their sterilization
programme
SASSARI – Lega Italiana dei
Diritti dell’Animale
AISPA funds their vet and an extra
member of staff who grooms and
exercises the dogs
26
BIRDS
David Lingard runs the UK branch of LIPU – Lega Italiana
Protezione Uccelli. They are the Italian equivalent of our
RSPB and are the leading nature conservation organisation
in Italy.
David kindly sent us this report:
Sardinia, a beautiful Mediterranean island but one where we
find scenes of indiscriminate snaring and killing of wild
animals of all sorts but the focus is on birds - and here it is thrushes which are
sought.
I joined one of the teams in the hills above Capoterra. We climbed high up the
hillsides, watched by men said to be poachers, until we reached the areas where
traps were set.
The traps we were looking for were made in sets of 4 or 5 between wire supports
which are left in the bushes from year to year. The branches on which they are
set are bent close to the horizontal to appear to be safe perches for thrushes such
as Blackbird, Song Thrush and Redwing. When the bird flies off it is caught by
the wing or the neck in a noose which tightens more and more as the bird tries
to struggle free. Again, the victim dangles in a noose until the poacher returns to
end its life - this time the bird will bring 4 or 5 Euros from the restaurants. I was
shown an advertisement in a local paper openly offering grilled wild birds.
So, what is being done? Among other things, LIPU-UK has paid for a battery
powered video recording system which has proved very successful. A pair of
carefully camouflaged cameras are set on the ground and point at one of the
traps; powered by a hidden car battery they can remain dormant for many
weeks. However, motion-detecting sensors bring the system to life when the
trapper returns to claim his spoils and the whole event of removing a bird from
the trap and resetting it is recorded, later to be transferred to DVD and given to
the police as evidence. This has brought a number of poachers to justice and, of
course, the word has gone around that the hillsides may not be as private as they
have been in the past.
The anti-poaching efforts are succeeding and this can be seen by the volunteers
having to walk further and further into the mountains to find the traps as the
poachers retreat from the attention of the LIPU teams.
The local police have been less than enthusiastic in the past but last winter the
Carabinieri were much more active and supportive of LIPU’s efforts to see the law
enforced, it is likely that this will shame the locals into more effective work.
Our projects in Italy are generously assisted by AISPA who have supported us for
many years - I thank you all.
27
LEGACIES
AISPA IS COMMITTED TO IMPROVING
ANIMAL WELFARE IN ITALY
Legacies make a major contribution towards AISPA’s ability to support animal
welfare projects across Italy. If you would consider making AISPA a beneficiary
in your will, we would be most grateful.
The following supporters kindly remembered us in their Will
Miss J W Barnett
Miss Elizabeth Ellen Bickford
Mrs Kathleen Rose Bush
Mr R W Green
Mrs Daphne Mary Harris
Mrs Kathleen Norrington
Dr Douglas Johnston Opie
Mr James Dennis Pipkin
Miss Alice Patricia Smith
Miss Ethel Eva Smith
Miss Rosemary Hildegarde Syfret Will Trust
LEGACIES ARE IMPORTANT TO US – THANK YOU
AISPA
Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
28
Dr Malcolm Holliday and Bunny Holliday of Rifugio Per Gatti ‘Cinni’ welcome the arrival of
medical supplies organised by AISPA
29
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2011
THE ANGLO-ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
(COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
The Society’s Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, 9th November,
at The Royal Over-Seas League, London SW1. William Richards took the Chair.
Apologies for absence were received from, Countess Karin Antonini, Mrs Alison
Richards, Mr Eduard Fuller, Mrs Barbara Milne, Mrs Katie Ulvert, Mrs Elizabeth
Dale, Dr Peter Credland, Mrs Marilyn Hawksley Lowman, Mrs Hanah Graber,
Mr John Letchford, Katie Boyle, Lyn Newton, Miss S Hoffman and Mrs T Brown.
The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, already circulated in the
Annual Report, were approved by the members and signed by the Chairman.
Catherine Pugsley, John Knight and Crispin Salimbeni retired by rotation.
Catherine Pugsley, John Knight and Crispin Salimbeni were re-elected to the
Executive Committee. Mr Mario Pampanini joined the Executive Committee.
Countess Karin Antonini retired from the Executive Committee and the
Chairman thanked her for her long term commitment to AISPA. Karin joined the
Committee in 1968 and during that time she brought to our attention a number
of new projects that AISPA has been pleased to support. We wish her well in
her retirement.
The Annual Report and Accounts for 2010 were adopted.
MacIntyre Hudson were appointed as Auditors and approval was given for their
remuneration to be fixed by the Executive Committee.
David Lingard of LIPU UK gave an audio visual presentation about the work of
LIPU in Italy.
30
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:
Charity Name:
The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
Charity Reg. No.: 208530
Company Number: 00335703
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE :
The following served on the Executive Committee during 2011:
W.F. Richards M.A. (Chairman)
C.R.B. Salimbeni M.A. (Treasurer)
Countess Antonini (retired 9th November 2011)
Dr. P. Credland B.Sc. Ph.D. F.R.E.S.
E. Fuller
Dr. J.A. Knight B.Vet.Med. M.R.C.V.S.
Mrs. A. Richards
Mrs. E. Dale
Mrs. K.E. Ulvert B.A.
E.G.C. Hulbert O.B.E.
Mrs C. Pugsley
A Norman-Butler
M. Pampanini M.A. Vet MB M.R.C.V.S. (appointed 2nd March 2011)
PRINCIPAL OFFICE :
30-34 New Bridge Street
London EC4V 6BJ
BANKERS :
C. Hoare & Co.
37 Fleet Street
London EC4P 4DQ
AUDITORS :
MacIntyre Hudson LLP
30-34 New Bridge Street
London EC4V 6BJ
Scottish Widows
67 Morrison Street
Edinburgh EH3 8YJ
CAF Bank Limited
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling ME19 4JQ
SOLICITORS :
A. Lutley
Springfield
Rookery Hill
Ashtead KT21 1HY
INVESTMENT MANAGERS :
J.M. Finn & Co.
Knapton Court
Turret Lane
Off Lower Brook Street
Ipswich IP4 1AP
31
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
THE ANGLO ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011
Summary of Financial Statement - Statement of Directors and Trustees
The summary financial statement for the year ended 31 December 2011 is set
out on the following page. This summary financial statement is an extract from
the Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2011.
This summary financial statement may not contain sufficient information to
gain a complete understanding of the financial affairs of the company. For
further information, the full annual accounts, auditor's report on the accounts
and directors' and trustees' report can be obtained from the Secretary upon
request. A copy of the full statutory accounts has also been delivered to the
Registrar of Companies.
Risk has been considered with regard to the Charity Commission’s guidelines
set out in their publication CC26.
The Report and Financial Statements were approved by the directors of The
Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals on 14th March 2012. The
auditor's report includes an unqualified statement in respect of reporting under
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006.
William Richards M.A.
Chairman
Date: 14th March 2012
Independent Auditor's Report to the members of The Anglo-Italian Society
for the Protection of Animals
We have examined the summary financial statement for the year ended 31
December 2011.
This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in
accordance with Section 427 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has
been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other
purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume
responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have
formed.
32
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
THE ANGLO ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011
Respective responsibilities of the directors and auditors
The directors are responsible for preparing the summary financial statement in
accordance with United Kingdom law. Our responsibility is to report to you
our opinion on the consistency of the summary financial statement with the
full annual financial statements and its compliance with the relevant
requirements of Section 427 of the Companies Act 2006, and the regulations
made thereunder.
We conducted our work in accordance with Bulletin 2008/3 issued by the
Auditing Practices Board. Our report on the company's full annual financial
statements describes the basis of our audit opinion on those financial
statements.
Opinion
In our opinion the summary financial statement is consistent with the full
annual financial statements of The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of
Animals for the year ended 31 December 2011 and complies with the
applicable requirements of section 427 of the Companies Act 2006, and the
regulations made thereunder.
Graeme L Young FCA
Senior Statutory Auditor
14th March 2012
For and behalf of
MacIntyre Hudson
Chartered Accountants
& Statutory Auditor
New Bridge Street House
30-34 New Bridge Street
London EC4V 6BJ
33
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
THE ANGLO-ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011
Income
2011
£
2010
£
76,182
149,984
78,518
125,188
68,443
3,966
67,837
2,582
298,575
274,125
£
£
70,271
68,464
272,210
29,788
266,336
33,062
40,991
42,054
413,260
409,916
(114,685)
(135,791)
(15,832)
159,082
(130,517)
23,291
Voluntary Income:
Donations, subscriptions and Gift Aid Income
Legacies
Investment Income:
Income resources from listed investments
Bank deposit interest
Total Income for the Year
Expenditure
Costs of Generating Funds
Charitable Activities:
Grants payable
Support costs
Governance Costs
Total Resources Expended
Net Outgoing Resources
(Loss)/Gain on investment assets
Net Movements in Funds
34
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
THE ANGLO-ITALIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011
2011
£
Statement of Net Assets
2010
£
Fixed Assets:
Tangible assets
Investments at market value
408
2,410,801
2,411,209
582
2,619,078
2,619,660
4,792
375,344
380,136
6,452
294,784
301,236
(8,358)
(7,392)
371,778
293,844
2,782,987
2,913,504
£
£
Accumulated Funds
2,782,987
2,913,504
Total
2,782,987
2,913,504
Current Assets
Other debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors - Due within one year
Net Current Assets
Net Assets as at 31 December 2011
Represented By:
35
ANIMAL WELFARE PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY AISPA
1. AREZZO – Rifugio Per Gatti ‘Cinni’
2. AREZZO – Refuge la Speranza
3. BRESCIA - Telefono Difesa Animali – New Project
4. CAGLIARI – Maria Antonietta Pilloni
5. CASTIGLIONE DEL LAGO – Dr Maira Sgueglia
6. CASTEL VOLTURNO – Dr. Dorothea Friz, Lega pro Animale & Fondazione
Mondo Animale Onlus
7. COMO – Associazione Cavalli del Bisbino ONLUS - New Project
8. CREMONA Associazione Protezione Animali
9. FAENZA – Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali
10. FANO – Il Graffio
11. FLORENCE – Marta and Guido Cecchi
12. FLORENCE - Careggi Cat Colony
13. FLORENCE – Cani di Carla
14. FOLLONICA – Associazione ‘Gli aMici di Mariella’
15. LERCHI – Canile di Lerchi
16. LIVORNO/CECINA – Associazione Mici Felici
17. MONTAIONE – Italian Horse Protection Association
18. MONTECATINI TERME – Cats Onlus – New Project
19. PALERMO – Lega Nazionale per la Difesa del Cane
20. PARMA – LIPU – Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli
21. POZZUOLI –The Fido and Neighbourhood Association
22. ROME - The Torre Argentina Sanctuary and approximately 45 colonies
23. ROME – Verano Cemetery Cats – Association Animal Welfare
24. ROME – Rifugio Parrelli – Lega Antivivisezionista Italiana
25. SASSARI – Lega Italiana dei Diritti dell’Animale
26. TRIESTE - Associazione Il Gattile
27. TURIN – Nata Libera
28. VENICE – The Anglo-Venetian Group for the Protection of Stray
Animals (DINGO)
29. VENICE – Associazione Veneta Zoofila
36
ANIMAL WELFARE PROJECTS SUPPORTED BY AISPA
27
7 8
20
3
N
W
Venice
Florence
18
16
17
Sassari
5
S
15
Perugia
14
25
26
28
9 29
1112
13
1
2
10
Parma
Turin
Rome
22
23
24
Naples
6
21
SARDINIA
4
E
Palermo
19
SICILY
Front cover photograph - Trieste Cat Shelter
Back cover photograph - Palermo Dog Shelter
AISPA
Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
AISPA-The Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals
30-34 New Bridge Street London EC4V 6BJ
Tel/Fax: 01743 232559
e-mail: info@aispa.org.uk
www.aispa.org.uk
PL
E
OU ASE
AD R N NO
DR EW TE
ES
S
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A Company Limited by Guarantee
Registered in England No. 335703
Registered Charity No. 208530