A Christmas discount is only a click away
With this edition of Tails, you’ll find your 2022 Christmas Gift Guide, a pawsome selection of presents, cards and seasonal treats, specially chosen for animal lovers and their pets. Every time you shop, you’ll helps us continue our work to improve the lives of dogs, cats and communities. And when you buy online before 9 October, you’ll get 10% off. Just enter the code TAILS at the checkout.
Issue 17 | Autumn 2022 | themayhew.org
Read about Pet Refuge Page 7
Two easy ways to shop 1. Online
Visit shop.themayhew.org – open 24 hours a day.
2. By post
Send your completed order form, together with card details or cheque, to: Mayhew, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ. Should you have any difficulty in placing an order please contact us at support@maynewanimalhome.org and we will be happy to help. 8|
Remember a lost pet Page 2
The cost of living crisis starts to bite Page 4
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Welcome to your tails newsletter See the difference you’ve made, scampering and bounding from every page!
Remembering Smudge
Remember his dainty white paws? Remember how soft he was? Remember his excitable half hours? Remember him nuzzling you in a morning? Remember his funny, loud mew? Remember him listening for your footsteps?
Whatever you remember about your pet, remember them forever by giving a gift in memory. Your love for them will live on by helping hundreds of animals escape a life of cruelty and neglect. Gifts in memory are the perfect way to remember lost animal lovers too.
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For more information on giving a gift in memory Visit themayhew.org/donate/gifts-in-memory Email support@mayhewanimalhome.org
A year and a half after joining as Interim CEO, I am delighted to co-write this message with Mayhew’s new Chief Executive, Sherine Wheeler who will take up the baton. Howard. I know that many of our supporters will share our profound sadness at the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, who was a proud animal lover her whole life. We extend our thoughts and sympathy to the Royal Family from all at Mayhew. I feel fortunate to have joined a committed, passionate, and talented team as we take Mayhew into the next chapter of its long and important history. Although this is a challenging time, I’m hugely ambitious for Mayhew.
As the effects of the pandemic have now been compounded by a cost-of-living crisis (read how your support is a lifeline to pets and people alike during these tough times in our feature article on pages four and five), we must ensure we can be there to support dogs and cats who increasingly need us, and to make a lasting difference to our communities. I hope you are as inspired as I am by the stories across the pages of this newsletter, and I know that together we will reach even more dogs, cats and pet owners who need us over the coming months. Sherine. As animal lovers, we both know just how quickly an adored dog or cat becomes part of the family and how devastating it is when they pass. Giving a gift in memory is a lasting way to remember them and can help hundreds of animals escape a life of cruelty and neglect. Please take a look at the page opposite for details. On behalf of everyone at Mayhew, a huge thank you! Howard Bridges Interim CEO
Sherine Wheeler CEO
To help more animals with a gift today Visit donate.themayhew.org Call 020 8962 8000 Return your donation form
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What we do
Kayleigh Kilcommons – Head of Cattery
56 cabins and never a dull moment! Our Head of Cattery describes the range of vital work your support makes possible…
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Intake
Sometimes when we arrive in the morning, we find an animal has been left outside our door. So we’ll take them in.
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Behavioural work
Some of the cats in our care need help adjusting to being held, stroked, or transported in a carrier.
Pets and the cost of living crisis ... Evaluation
It’s important for us to examine new arrivals for possible health issues, so our Veterinary team can give them treatment.
And how your support is making all the difference to the lives of vulnerable animals Kayleigh in her element and owners
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At Mayhew, we know first-hand how quickly and unexpectedly people can find themselves in crisis. We saw it in the pandemic when animals were given up during and after lockdowns as people’s circumstances changed and they were no longer able to care for their animals.
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6 Thanks to your generous support, we’re here to help
We’re here for our local communities. Our Animal Welfare Officers have been making And now, with living costs soaring, more regular visits to four food banks in Brent and more pet owners are facing an to donate food and other supplies. And we impossible for Feedingchoice between providing Cleaning Socialising made 35 drops from January to June this themselves and buying food for their year, expand the scheme to is The cats love this bit! Not The busiest part ofwith the plans to Interacting with each cat beloved pets. We can already see the the other afour boroughs we serve. only do we feed them day. Cats can cover be quite great way to keep them number of animals being surrendered several times a day, but we messy, so it’s important happy, as well as allowing us We’re also continuing to deliver care climbing due to owners not being able to check that they are eating for us to disinfect to keep an eye out for any packages, including collars, treats, flea afford to care for them any more. It’s clear well, going to the toilet, etc. their living space possible issues they may and worming treatments and poo bags, to people are being forced to make some regularly so it’s nice and be having. vulnerable pets and owners. truly heartwrenching decisions. comfortable for them.
Carole received one of our care packages and says, “I’m so grateful for all the help Mayhew has given me and my dogs this past year. Tania [one of our amazing Animal Welfare Officers] has provided me with donations of dog food and treats for my three dogs, and has been very supportive in these hard times.”
Lisa Guiney, Head of Operations at Mayhew, adds, “Our care packages are a lifeline to so many pet owners. But in Brent alone we could see need skyrocket by as much as 230% by the end of the year, compared to the same period in 2021.” It’s a difficult time which is why we’re so grateful to have you by our sides.
We’re here to offer advice and treatment
Research by the RSPCA shows there’s been an increase in pet owners turning to the internet to find affordable veterinary care. It’s clear people need to know they have somewhere to turn, which is why we’re on hand to provide expert guidance and preventative interventions. Through our work
Thanks to you, we delivered 73 individual care packages and pet food parcels to owners in need from January to June this year. in the community, we’ve also been dropping off information about our services – with food banks, the homeless and low income pet owners. That way, those who need us can find out about us and get in touch. Through our Community Vet Clinic, we’re offering free neutering, vaccination, parasite control and microchipping to low-income pet owners across Ealing, Brent, Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster. We’re also providing training, enrichment and health advice for all through our online knowledge base at advice.themayhew.org. Thank you for helping us be there for pets and owners who need us. Because of you, we can support animals with nowhere to go and help vulnerable owners and pets stay together in these financially challenging times.
Donate by visiting themayhew.org/donate
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Pet Refuge: caring for pets of people in crisis
A tale of two kitties This feline couple found the purrfect partner... in each other!
Cats are generally solitary creatures, but sometimes you find a duo who get along and even flourish in each other’s company – which is where our expert Mayhew matchmakers come in!
Friends in need
In early July, two eight-to-nine-week-old kittens arrived at Mayhew within days of each other. Roxy had been found hiding in a thorn bush by a member of the public, while Remi was signed over to Mayhew by an owner who sadly was unable to cope.
Thanks to your commitment to dogs, cats and communities, we can provide temporary care when owners can’t be there Our cattery is extremely busy this year, stretched to breaking point by the fallout of the pandemic, rising living costs and an especially heavy kitten season. As the singletons were struggling to settle, staff decided to pair them up, move them to a foster home and watch as the two became fast friends.
Together furever
A few weeks on and the kittens are thriving, reports foster carer Nicola.
“Remi and Roxy (aka Romeo and Juliet) are inseparable. Despite never having met each other, or other kittens as far as we’re aware, they fell in love instantly. Roxy’s fearlessness has encouraged Remi to overcome his fears and now they’re both attention-seekers, following me from room to room. They’re closer than some real siblings I’ve fostered in the past!” We couldn’t imagine separating these furry best friends so, once neutered, they’re destined for a forever home together.
If you, or someone you know, would be interested in rehoming Remi and Roxy, please visit themayhew.org/cats
What happens when a pet owner suddenly needs to go into hospital or faces another issue and has no one to look after their beloved animal? Some people hesitate to have the vital medical care they need if it means leaving their pet behind.
Mayhew understands the powerful connection between animals and people, and our focus is about keeping pets and owners together. That’s why we’re here for pet owners across London with our Pet Refuge service which offers pets the best possible temporary care.
to place him with one of our carefully assessed foster carers, who gave him a loving home for the remaining 8 ½ weeks. Robert had his surgery and completed his rehabilitation before being reunited with his best friend.
Tiger
Robert, 72, needed to go into hospital for essential hip replacement surgery, but his main concern was who would look after West Highland terrier Tiger? Without friends or family nearby, Robert didn’t want to lose Tiger. Then, his local pet shop suggested he contact us. Robert says, “My first call with Mayhew was like a ton of bricks being lifted off my shoulders.”
Our team collected Tiger and brought him to Mayhew for 11 days. We were then able
Luna
Three-year-old cat Luna came into our care when her owner, Maisie, 88, needed major spinal surgery. Maisie’s daughter Fiona cares for her mum alongside her autistic son and was unable to look after Luna too. We stepped in, and Maisie was able to receive her treatment without worrying about Luna’s wellbeing.
Fiona says, “Head of Cattery Kayleigh ensured there was continuous dialogue about Luna’s wellbeing, which encouraged Mum’s rehabilitation.” We’re currently running a digital campaign about Pet Refuge. Sign up to receive regular emails about the service at themayhew.org/pet-refuge-form
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