Our Animal Protector Awards may be all wrapped up for this year, but our passion for protection is always there.

For over 60 years, our teams at the RAJA Group have been developing and sourcing new ways to keep valuable products safe during transit. For the last two years we’ve used our winter campaign to pass this protection on to animals rather than products. In 2014, we helped Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital protect hedgehogs in our Home Safe Home campaign, raising over £350 and donating £200 worth of stationery to their offices.

With spring officially here (meteorologically speaking), we can all start doing our bit to protect wildlife in our gardens and enrich the lives of our pets, simply by re-purposing Rajapack products at home.

Hedgehog house from a cardboard box

All year round, these little creatures need a safe place to feed and get out of the rain and cold. The Co-op suggest getting a thick cardboard box about 30cm wide, 45cm deep and 30cm tall and cutting a 12cm wide hole in the box. You can attach a 30cm long entrance tunnel made from 10-13cm diameter drain pipe and put some air vent holes in the top of the box.

Then put dry leaves, straw or shredded newspaper inside and cover the top of the box with a bin bag that you’ve cut down each side or roof felting. Then tuck the box near a hedge or wall and cover the whole thing with leaves and soil. If possible, put the entrance facing south to keep cold northerly winds out.

In spring the hedgehogs will come out of hibernation hungry, so you can see if there are sources of slugs, grubs and worms near to your hedgehog house. You can also leave them water, dry cat biscuits, tinned cat or dog food, or dried mealworms. Do not leave milk and bread for them as this can make them very ill.

Bird nest box from a broken pallet

If you have a broken wooden pallet or off-cuts from another project, the deck boards across the top of a pallet are ideal for making a nest box. By following the design below you will make a safe nest for a declining species called house sparrows and you can help the British Trust for Ornithology track these birds by registering your nest box.

Design and tips courtesy of http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/nest_box/

Remember:

• Drainage holes are important for draining away liquid waste and rainwater
• Don’t be tempted to add a perch. Predators may intimidate the birds and force the adult birds to leave
• A coat of linseed oil will stop the wood drying out but is not essential. Wood preservatives are best avoided as some are poisonous. Don’t paint the box
• A hinged lid allows you to clean the box easily but make sure it is fastened securely to stop magpies and squirrels raiding the nest.

Cardboard boxes for rabbits

Any spare cardboard boxes are ideal for your rabbit’s hutch. They love being protected so creating a small house (with a window and door for them to see out at all times) from a cardboard box and putting it inside your hutch gives them a good place to hide. Please remember that the ‘3 hop rule’ still applies and you shouldn’t put a cardboard box in the hutch that is too big. If they have a larger space to run around in the garden, leave some made-up cardboard boxes in different places; your rabbits love finding new places to feel safe in!

Shredded paper for gerbils, guinea pigs and hamsters

If you run out of straw or hay for your pet’s bedding, you can reuse shredded paper that’s left over from packaging or food hampers. It’s absorbent, warm and free! You can also tear up waste paper like used envelopes and newspaper, but make sure to use rough paper. Paper with a smooth coating may not offer enough insulation.

Postal tubes

Postal tubes from posters and certificates make great toys for cats, small dogs, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and many more small animals. Simply cut them up with scissors or a small hacksaw and your pets will love running through them or chewing on them.

You could also get crafty and reuse packaging materials and create a scratching post for your cat. You’ll need a small piece of wood for the base, rope or thick string to wrap around the outside of the postal tube and a few tools.

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Whilst our nominators have been crossing their fingers, hoping that their good cause would be one of our incredible winners, our judges have been reading through entry after entry. It’s been an emotional week for them, reading heart-warming stories about selfless people and organisations.

Our 10 Animal Protectors have now been selected for their unwavering commitment to protecting vulnerable animals and for the huge difference their work makes. They have been told the good news and have chosen what they would like in their Reward Boxes.

Meet our remarkable Rajapack Animal Protectors

Ros Karamanth (Stepping Stones Rescue Centre)

Ros specialises in rescuing and rehoming pregnant cats and their kittens. Her nomination caught our attention because she has made a difference to so many cats and never turns away an animal in need! Well done Ros, keep up the great work!

Labrador Retriever Rescue Southern England (LRRSE)

This charity unites pure bred and Labrador Retriever crosses with loving new homes across the South of England. LRRSE does not have a rescue centre, kennelling facilities or offices. What’s more, they are self-funded and staffed entirely by volunteers who juggle their day jobs with rescue work. It was this commitment and passion for protecting Labradors that really impressed our judges. We hope their Reward Box goes some way to helping the volunteers continue their work.

Lakeland Trailhound Welfare (LTW)

Trailhounds (the ‘cross-country runners of dog racing’) have historically been deemed unsuitable as pets if no longer racing, or injured. Since the charity was set up 20 years ago, they have found new homes for over 1000 hounds and, through feedback from adoptive owners, have created a shift in the mind-set of the hound-trailing community, who are able to see their old hound settled and happy in their new home. Injured, retired and problem dogs are now referred to LTW, who work hard to find homes all over the UK. Our judges were most impressed by LTW’s education programme to prove that there is life after racing for ex working dogs.

Milnthorpe Kennels and Cattery

Started as a kennels and cattery, within 18 months they were approached by a local animal rescue charity to help them care for rescue dogs. With the policy that all dogs go home neutered, microchipped and vaccinated, over 600 dogs have been re-homed. The team also educate children in the area about animal welfare, microchipping and raise awareness of that fact that most animal crises are accompanied by a human crisis. Again, it was the educational work this organisation do that really stood out to our judges. By acting now they are preventing suffering in the future.

Gloria Muir (Hogles wood Hedgehog home)

Gloria nurses and cares for hedgehogs before releasing them back into the wild. Through her enduring enthusiasm and ‘super smile’, this amazing lady has inspired other people locally and internationally to take care of this declining species. We really admire this personal approach to protection, especially for an endangered species such as hedgehogs.

Dogs for Good

Through intensive training, Dogs for Good provide assistance dogs to help adults and children with physical disabilities and families with an autistic child. This support really does change lives and gives people their confidence and zest for life back. Well done Dogs for Good, and we hope your Reward Box helps you keep up the great work.

Alley Cats

This is a very small organisation that rescues abandoned kittens. They have just a handful of carers who foster the kittens until they are well enough to be adopted. Our judges really liked the fact that this charity not only protects kittens and changes their lives, they also bring joy to the lives of the carers.

HULA Animal Rescue

This small registered charity has rehomed thousands of unwanted domestic animals since it was founded in 1972. HULA relies on volunteers to help relieve suffering and distress by providing refuge and care until permanent homes can be found. It also provides advice to owners who are unable to cope due to a change in circumstances. This wonderful charity works tirelessly to make sure no animal is left homeless or in distress.

The Fox Project

This small charity works hard to care for foxes who have been injured or are unwell. They completely depend on the good will of animal lovers and look after the sick animal in their hospital before releasing it back to its natural habitats. Our judges were impressed by The Fox Project’s dedication to caring for these creatures.

 National Animal Welfare Trust Trindledown Farm

This organisation is dedicated exclusively to caring for animals ‘enjoying the twilight years of their lives’. Older animals make great companions, but often find themselves in a rescue centre because they have lost their elderly companion. NAWT care for these animals until a new home is found and really caught the eye of our judges because most of their fundraising is done by a dedicated crew of volunteers.

(Picture credit to Nicola Romagna)

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