All Creatures Great & Small

Alongside a small yet passionate team of veterinary nurses at the Alderney Animal Welfare Society (AAWS), Kathy Kissick has one of the most important jobs on the island, but her warm, friendly character gives little away about the depth of this responsibility.

“For me, caring for the island’s animals has always been an enormous privilege,” she explains. “I have an incredible team that goes above and beyond to care for the animals here, and I’m extremely proud of that.”

For an island with a population of just 2,000, this provision of care is essential; many of the island’s pets provide vital companionship, particularly through the darker months, and are familiar personalities in the community. As Kathy explains, “Island life can be extremely lonely at times, so the animals we look after are a lifeline for their owners.”

Having begun her illustrious veterinary career in the UK in the early 1980s, Kathy taught animal care, veterinary nursing and equine nursing at all levels, eventually managing over 500 students and 28 staff members at an elite facility in Lancashire.

She was awarded the highest industry accolade, the Royal College Golden Jubilee Veterinary Nursing Award, but it is her commitment to caring and love of Alderney that is clearly her driving force. Kathy says, “I had a veterinary nurse friend who took a job over here and married a local farmer. We used to visit every year with the children and help out with the haymaking. We just loved it, and it was my dream to retire here. That dream became a reality in 2015.”

Established in the 1950s, the charity was the brainchild of Margaret Cosby, a nurse who, upon returning after the war, took it upon herself to care for the island’s many feral and abandoned animals. With very limited experience, Margaret worked with a small team to develop a facility where the animals could be treated with care and compassion.

When her husband, Brigadier Cosby, died in the early 70s, he bequeathed the land and its properties to the charity, safeguarding its legacy as ‘Protector of the defenceless’ for generations to come. It is this code of ethics that sits at the charity’s heart to this day.

Pet friendly Braye Beach Hotel, Alderney

“I have an incredible team that goes above and beyond to care for the animals here.”

As Kathy explains, “Margaret strongly believed in dignified end-of-life care, and that’s something we still stand by. We’ve never charged to euthanise an animal, and we never will. We are also led by our mantra ‘Caring for the island’s animals’.”

Empowerment and resilience are also cornerstones of the charity. “Working on a small island means we are cut off from the typical support,” Kathy explains. “We have to make quick decisions but it also opens up opportunities for greater hands-on experience, and that’s invaluable.”

Both of the veterinary nurses who work alongside Kathy are trained to perform minor surgeries, but can also undertake more serious procedures with guidance from a qualified vet via a phone link from Guernsey. In emergencies when off-island treatment is the only option, the community really comes into its own. “We have a team of private pilots and boat owners who we can call on when we need to get an animal to Guernsey urgently, which can be a genuine lifeline – it’s a great example of how highly regarded our animals are here.”

As with any charity, fundraising is critical to the AAWS’ survival. Fees generated are used to fund salaries but the day-to-day running costs for the clinic, kennels and cattery need to be met, and the surgery’s state-of-the-art equipment also needs maintaining. Kathy says, “It’s so important that we can do as much as possible here at the surgery, from blood tests to ultrasounds. Having the right equipment means that we can get a quick diagnosis and begin the best treatment plan. Ultimately, it’s about getting our animals better as soon as possible.”

To support the Alderney Animal Welfare Society, visit the charity’s new Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/alderneyanimalwelfare