​Galway’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have opened a new charity shop along Main Street, Ballinasloe

​Galway’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have opened a new charity shop along Main Street, and since their launch have cooperated in helping numerous abandoned animals to find a new home, locally.
 
Galway SPCA is a charity based within the county aiming to help, rescue, rehabilitate and re-home domestic animals to permanent homes. The service hosts a cattery in Athenry, a dog sanctuary in Killimor, as well as three charity shops at Briarhill Business Park, Athenry, and now Ballinasloe.
 
The Ballinasloe GSPCA store offers a vast range of items for ladies, gents and the young ones with clothing for all seasons, books, DVDs, homeware items, and small furniture pieces including coffee tables, bedside lockers and bookcases. The not-for-profit business is supported by a team of volunteers who, as SPCA volunteer Anita Broadmor described: “are the backbone of the shop and who we simply couldn’t manage without”.
 
Since their initial opening in March 2022, they have been open five days a week between Tuesday and Saturday from 11:00 and 16:00. In April 2023, they welcomed a new vibrant sign on their store front displayed onto Main Street. The shop does not offer any treatments or services itself for animals but can help by providing any necessary GSPCA contacts.
 
The charity provides support to all animals whether abandoned or in distress, but are only able to house cats, dogs and other small companion animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs or rabbits. Regardless they work closely with selectively chosen wildlife specialist groups and the Department of Agriculture, ensuring assistance is available to other species in need.
 
One of many animals who received treatment through the GSPCA was an English Bulldog named Mrs Slocombe who was found on the streets within Ballinasloe with bones protruding from her skin, punctured wounds on her head and with knee and elbow difficulties. She was estimated to be six years old, assumed to have given birth to a litter of pups and lived a life of cruelty and neglect.
 
The GSPCA team brought her safely to their sanctuary in Killimor and within weeks treated her skin issues, kept her well fed, built up her strength and showered her with love and kindness. Soon she recovered and has since found a forever home through a lady named Caroline and is living a comfortable sheltered life.
 
Available pets to adopt can be found on the Galway SPCA website at gspca.ie. Those who witness animals in distress or abandonment can contact their office at (091) 563 631 between Monday to Saturday from 10.30 to 17:30.
 
Donations can be given at their Ballinasloe counter, with any purchase being appreciated by the charity. Further discussions surrounding contributions, or enquiries regarding volunteering, can be made to them at (083) 8113391. OR checkout their fbook page – gspcashop, Ballinasloe.