The Mayhew Animal Home
The Mayhew Helping animals and their carers since 1886 Issue 34  Autumn/Winter 2012 ÂŁ1
ew
The Mayh
Brand new Mayhew merchandise inside!
Snap Happy: our photographic competition winners! Staffies: the lovable dogs that nobody wants Amazing animal recoveries Essential dates for your diary!
Contents 5 Fantastic fundraisers! Some of our friends who have come up with creative ways to generate funds
and get involved
10 Therapaws Visiting the elderly in care homes with some of our residents
12 Stimulus for cats
28 Studying to become a vet A profile on trainee vet Harry Collas 29 Letters Updates from former residents 30 What’s on
Ideas to keep your cat entertained!
Put these dates in your diary
14 Mayhew merchandise
How to come to terms with the loss of a loved pet
26 Part of the Team Matt Pearson, Cat Adoption Officer
6 News and Events Find out what we have been up to
24 Coping with loss
Fabulous new T-shirts and much more!
16 Happy endings Tales of some of our animals who have found their second chance at happiness
18 Breed profile: staffies
32 Find me a home Our dogs, cats and rabbits available for adoption
34 Diabetes in pets How to deal with diabetes in pets
The lovable dogs that nobody wants
20 Snap Happy! Winners
We believe that animals, as living creatures, are entitled to legal protection, moral and ethical consideration and have a value beyond economic measure.
See the brilliant winning photos
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The Mayhew Animal Home
Events: events@mayhewanimalhome.org
Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ Tel: 020 8969 0178 Fax: 020 8964 3221
Clinic appointments: vetclinic@mayhewanimalhome.org
Email: info@mayhewanimalhome.org www.themayhew.org
Fostering or adoption enquiries: Dogs: lisa@mayhewanimalhome.org dogfostering@mayhewanimalhome.org Cats and Rabbits: matthew@mayhewanimalhome.org
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Trustees: Adam Halsey, Chair, Joan Dixon, Judy Purves, Joy Spanner, Fiona Ash, John Matthews, Svetlana Ignatieva Photographers: Yvonne White, Rebecca Hadell Contributors: Sarah Dickinson, Charlotte Galvin, Caroline Yates, Amy Blyth Design: Grade Design, www.gradedesign.com Print: DC Direct please recycle after reading
Welcome
Fantastic fundraisers
Welcome to the final Mayhew magazine for 2012. Hello to all new supporters who have joined us this year and warmest wishes to all our dedicated long term friends, your support is invaluable to us and we thank you for your continued commitment to our charity and our animals.
Our Mayhew supporters are without question the most compassionate charity fundraisers around! Every year these generous friends come up with creative ways to make money for our animals. 100 miles for The Mayhew
Every year our autumn edition comes with our Christmas catalogue. We hope you will enjoy perusing all of the exciting new gift items, including a brand new range of stylish T-shirts and bags, as requested by our dedicated supporters! Many readers will have followed the news of our cattery roof refurbishment and we are delighted to announce that construction is nearly complete! The fabulous rebuild has really renovated our cattery and some of the kitten garden and bunny burrows, a heartfelt thank you to all who helped us raise the £125,000 so we could complete this essential work. In early October The Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham will officially open the new roof as she has generously chosen The Mayhew to benefit as one of her charities during her year in office. We cannot express our gratitude enough to the wonderful foster carers who came forward to look after so many of our cats, while the new roof was being built. Generously taking a cat in temporarily was of vital help at this time and we are sure our cats enjoyed being in a home environment. Although we do place many of our animals in foster homes, we also go to great lengths to ensure that our cattery environment is both stimulating and stress-free. Read an article from our Cat Welfare Co-ordinator on page 12 on why social stimulus is essential and how you can get creative for your cats. It isn’t only through foster care however, that some of our animals experience a different
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environment while they wait for a new home. Our TheraPaws scheme takes some of our animals on regular visits to residential care homes to provide enrichment for the elderly. TheraPaws is a scheme we are extremely proud of as it is the perfect embodiment of our charity ethos to “help both animals and their carers”. Find out more about the initiative on page 10 and how you can get involved. Many of the most popular Mayhew pups that have visited the centres via the TheraPaws scheme have been Staffies, whose people-orientated personalities mean they simply adore spreading the love to the residents. Take a look at page 18 for an in-depth look at the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed and why they could be perfect for you. There is still lots left for us to achieve at The Mayhew in 2012 and we hope to see some of our friends and supporters at our upcoming events. There is a list of all our fantastic plans on page 29 and we can’t wait to see you there! As always, we love to hear from readers of The Mayhew. We couldn’t continue without your valuable support of our charity and we love to hear your thoughts about our work. If you would also like to request an extra Christmas catalogue to pass on to a friend, please email charlotte@ mayhewanimalhome.org, or call 020 8968 2446. All my very best wishes until next year!
Sarah Dickinson Media and Communications Manager sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org
Animal lover, Alex Fawcett, wanted to combine his love of the great outdoors with raising money for The Mayhew, so came up with a unique fundraising plan to walk 100 miles from Reading to Wales in July. Over one week, Alex blazed a trail to complete the route for charity. Sleeping in fields and eating supermarket sandwiches, this committed supporter raised over £900 for our animals. Alex collected a phenomenal amount of cash – and no doubt a few blisters – along the way, so we are very grateful! Alex said: “I walked to Wales because I wanted to fantastic fundraisers to raise vital funds for our challenge myself a bit, do something a little different and I’m a firm believer in sustainable transport. I hate animals. Every penny helps and what better way to enjoy raising cash for charities than by enjoying a cars, but I love cats and I thought if getting up and delicious slice of cake!’ walking a hundred miles can go some way to helping animals that are mistreated then it would be a bit of a wasted opportunity not to, right?” “We wanted to sponsor The Mayhew to
Charity bun’draiser Martin and Angela Humphrey, held a fantastic ‘bun’draiser’ at their home in order to raise money for our cats, dogs and rabbits. Forty people turned up to enjoy a tasty array of cakes and treats including cheese scones, coffee and walnut sponge, lime cheesecake, Victoria sponges, carrot cake and chocolate marble. At ten pounds a head for the charity cakes, and tips on top for The Mayhew animals, Angela and Martin raised a fantastic £1,150 in total. The Mayhew’s Events Officer, Lisa Houlihan, said: ‘It is simply wonderful when generous supporters like Angela and Martin Humphrey plan such
make a difference in our community as well as contribute to a good cause” Julieann Amartey, one of the flashmob participants
Flashmobbing for funds! We were delighted to receive a call from The Challenge Network informing us they had chosen The Mayhew to benefit from a uniquely creative charity challenge – flashmobbing! 13 people dressed up in animal themed attire on September 15th and arrived at popular landmarks in north west London to play some animal tunes and pop up with an impromptu dance performance to encourage the crowds to give cash!
Are you inspired to create your own charity challenge? Then, we would love to hear from you! Let us know your plans by getting in touch with Lisa Houlihan on 020 8968 2445 or email events@mayhewanimalhome.org. www.themayhew.org
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News round up Read about what we have been up to over the last couple of months, including the exciting development of our new cat roof construction!
New Mayhew website We have revamped The Mayhew website with a fresh, new design including lots of informative pages about our community projects, community vet clinic services, volunteering opportunities, an events diary and much more! You can take a look at the animals for adoption and view their own unique pages, featuring lots about their personalities and the type of home they are looking for, in addition to galleries of fab photos and videos of them at The Mayhew! Take a look today at www.themayhew.org
Amazing adopter gets a luxury makeover When we heard that Good Housekeeping magazine were looking for inspirational stories about adopters whose lives have been enriched by the animals in their care, we immediately thought of Melanie Rinaldi, who took two of our young cats into her home this year. Melanie is an amazing adopter and we receive regular updates from her about how her Mayhew cats, Oscar and Schmoo, enrich the life of her three-year old son, Kristian, who has Lennox Gastaut Syndrome: a very severe type of epilepsy. Melanie reports that both the cats have a ‘sixth sense’ around Kristian and if he has had a particularly bad day with seizures then Oscar will go and quietly curl up with him. There are many reported cases of how animals benefit our lives and can bring us a sense of unique calm and well-being and it is wonderful to know that two of our Mayhew cats have gone to a loving home 6
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A hellish case of animal hoarding Earlier in the year, many national news outlets covered the details of a particularly horrific case of animal hoarding that our Animal Welfare team were involved in. The London Borough Council of Brent called in our team after they had received reports from neighbours that a local property was of huge environmental concern and that there were high numbers of cats living in and around the house. After several weeks of careful negotiation with the owners of the house, our Animal Welfare team were able to enter and try and help the cats on the property. They reported finding ‘over 50 cats, which were all suffering with the flu and were living in an inbred feral colony. The filth that they had been living in was unbelievable and the smell of ammonia stung your eyes when you entered the house. We have found kittens under piles and piles of rubbish and had to dig them out to be able to bring them in for treatment. We have only been able to locate one dead cat so far but there must be more as the amount of flies in the property is overwhelming.’
This scenario is not as uncommon as people might think and our Animal Welfare team are involved in many cases of hoarding every year. Without neutering domestic pets, and by encouraging unneutered feral colonies to feed and breed on your property, then the health of these animals will take a fatal turn for the worst, as was so keenly observed in this sad case. You can find out more about the work of our Animal Welfare Officers by taking a look at the new pages on our website dedicated to their projects: www.themayhew.org/communityprojects
New cattery roof construction update
where they are making a difference to the lives of everyone in that family. However, the real reason we wanted Melanie to be able to tell Good Housekeeping all about her animals, was also so she would get recognition for all the fantastic funds she has raised for The Mayhew by taking part in charity challenges such as the British 10k Run and Santa Run. Melanie spent the day with the magazine team and was rewarded with a fabulous make over and a day of treats while she gave her interview.
At around the time you will be reading this magazine, we will be officially opening our brand new cattery roof! Thanks to the phenomenal generosity of our supporters, we were able to raise the funds for the project, which has given our facilities a much needed facelift! Take a look at our website to see a gallery of images of the construction timeline and how our cats, rabbits and kittens are benefitting from the fantastic new roof. Thank you to everyone who helped us make this plan a reality for our rescue centre. Please keep visiting our website and facebook page to see lots of photos of the whole construction, the brand new roof and how our feline residents are enjoying the refurbishments! www.themayhew.org
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Events round up It’s been a busy couple of months and we’ve had a great time at some fantastic summer events. We hope you enjoy the round up!
The Connaught village festival On Wednesday 20th June, Connaught Village (luxury retail and dining quarter of the Hyde Park Estate) hosted an amazing summer festival. The Hyde Park Veterinary Centre invited us to join in the fun by putting on a magnificent red carpet dog show where all proceeds went to The Mayhew! The dog show had style, glamour and doggie stories of
triumph over adversity that would tug on the toughest of heart strings! We teamed up with Lilly’s Kitchen (the organic pet food store) who provided a fun doggy photo booth to give people a reminder of the day and help us to raise funds too. The event raised £727.10 – thank you Hyde Park Vets!
Battersea Square’ dog show This year, we were lucky enough to be the chosen by ‘Woofs to Kitty’s’ cat and dog grooming service, as one of the beneficiary charities for their first ever dog show in Battersea Square! 1000’s of people turned up to enjoy the day and our team met scores of animal lovers keen to know about the work of The Mayhew, our animals
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needing homes and us all had a jolly good day of fun in the sun! The dog show was fantastically well attended and a Mayhew doggy goodie bag was given out to every entrant. It was an amazing day full of music, entertainment and we thoroughly enjoyed meeting new faces and an amazing £1,090.85 was raised in total!
Tesco bag pack On 16th June, Tesco superstore Kensington opened their doors to a team of Mayhew volunteers and staff to pack customer’s bags for a small donation to our charity. Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time, although we made sure we packed beans at the bottom and eggs on top, it was Mayhew Staffy, Shane, who won the public’s hearts, not our bag packing skills! £327.03 was raised on the day and if you’d like to be a part of events like these please take a look at the Volunteering page on our website.
Nightrider 2012 A massive thank you to the 14 riders who put in so much hard work, training and fundraising, for the Nightrider challenge – a gruelling 100km bike ride past some of London’s most iconic landmarks, all by moonlight. The spirit and achievement of the riders is truly inspirational and they raised a whopping £2,718.00 – funds that go directly to helping the dogs, cats and rabbits in our care. If you feel inspired by their pedal power, please get in touch about Nightrider 2013!
AWOs at Protect Your Pets day Our outstanding Animal Welfare Officers (AWOs) were at ‘Protect your Pets day’ at Little Wormwood Scrubs Park, near to our rescue centre. They provided free microchipping and booked in lots of dogs for neutering and vaccinations at our Community Vet Clinic, onsite at The Mayhew. Well done to the AWO team for spreading the word about responsible pet ownership and the vital issues of microchipping and neutering.
British 10k Run We are delighted to report on the most successful event of our year! 42 ‘Team Mayhew’ runners showed phenomenal enthusiasm and determination in raising over £20,000 for us in The British 10K Run! Thanks to our 42 runners, who inspired so many people to sponsor them on this challenge. The Mayhew was there to cheer them on and even received a few ‘high fives’ from them as they whizzed past! Want to sign up for next year’s British 10k? Then email events@mayhewanimalhome.org
www.themayhew.org
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Round of applause for TheraPaws Since our last magazine our Animal Visits Co-ordinator, Stephanie, has been very busy organising the expansion of our TheraPaws programme. This initiative involves volunteers regularly visiting elderly care homes and rehabilitation centres with animals from The Mayhew. Residents get to meet a variety of our animals and really benefit from interacting with these pets, as well as chatting with the volunteers.
We are only able to run this initiative thanks to a generous grant from the City Bridge Trust
In the months since Stephanie has joined The Mayhew, interest in the TheraPaws scheme has rocketed and there is now a waiting list of organisations hoping to benefit from animal visits. Stephanie has thrown herself into networking events where both organisations and individuals have been put forward to benefit from the scheme. These events have also been an excellent opportunity for Stephanie to recruit volunteers by engaging with organisations such as St Mungo’s and Age UK. We have been fortunate enough to receive great interest in the volunteering opportunities for TheraPaws and Stephanie is currently busy interviewing applicants. As our animal visits are 10
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a very social occasion, it’s important that our volunteers are friendly, approachable and up for a good old chat. Co-ordinating TheraPaws is a mammoth task and the success of the programme hinges on the wonderful volunteers who take our animals on visits to centres. When the programme is completely up and running, we hope to deliver ten visits every week, requiring a team of 30 to 40 volunteers. The Mayhew is always looking for dedicated, new volunteers for TheraPaws who will be part of a fantastic experience, helping to change the lives of others. Volunteers who can drive and ideally have their own car as well as those who are over 60 years old are particularly
“Co-ordinating TheraPaws is a mammoth task and the success of the programme hinges on the wonderful volunteers who take our animals on visits to centres.” encouraged to apply. Some of the recipients of TheraPaws may be suffering from advanced forms of dementia or Alzheimers and may have reduced awareness of their surroundings. Interaction with animals can provide invaluable stimulation for the residents we meet who greatly benefit from the sensory experience of stroking and cuddling animals. The animals also act as a great conversation starter and ice breaker for the residents and the volunteers. Often, residents will happily sit and chat with TheraPaws volunteers for the duration of the visit, recounting stories about animals and themselves. This interaction is so important as many residents can go weeks without receiving a visitor from the outside world. Leean is a volunteer for TheraPaws and finds the experience very rewarding: “There have been so many instances where animal visits have made a difference to the residents that it’s difficult to know “His face lights up whenever we visit and where to start. Frank was once a prisoner of war and he tells us it’s the highlight of his week.” loves to recount his tales while a dog sits alongside him or on his feet. His face lights up whenever we visit and talk, but was very interested in the animals. Now Dara is always happy to see us and chats a great deal; the he tells us it’s the highlight of his week. At 92 Frank animals gave him the confidence to do this.” can’t get around that much and the visits are a TheraPaws can also come as a great relief to welcome break from everyday life in the centre.” those residents anxious about life in an elderly And Frank’s story is just one of many, residential home. One lady, who Stephanie has according to Leean. been in contact with, explained how TheraPaws “Dennis hails from Ireland and grew up on a farm. Whenever we bring dogs he tells us about his childhood and regular contact with animals was a great reassurance to her and eased the transition from and the animals he used to own. Dennis suffers from dementia and has no family in the UK so our visits are her own home to sheltered accommodation. After a lot of hard work and organising the a wonderful opportunity for him to talk about his life. TheraPaws programme will officially launch in Dara is another resident who has really benefited from the next two months! TheraPaws. When we first visited he wouldn’t really
If you would like to apply as a volunteer for TheraPaws please visit themayhew.org/volunteering or if you know an organisation or individual who you think would benefit from our TheraPaws programme please contact Stephanie by phone on 020 8968 3201 or email stephanie@ mayhewanimalhome.org. www.themayhew.org
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Social stimulus for cats
A step-by-step guide to creating your own puzzle feeder 1. Gather fifteen empty toilet rolls, a large piece of flat cardboard, non-toxic glue and some sticky tape.
The Mayhew provides a safe haven for hundreds of homeless cats every year. Part of our work is to ensure these cats remain both physically and mentally stimulated during their stay. Here are a few ideas from our Cat Welfare Co-ordinator that can easily be used at home to provide ample entertainment for your cats.
3. Flatten the end of the cut toilet roll so that it is able to sit flat on an even surface. Starting with the bottom row, glue five toilet rolls in an even row towards the bottom of the cardboard. Use the sticky tape to securely fasten the toilet rolls while the glue dries.
2. Using scissors, cut four slits each about 1cm in length and equally spaced apart into one end of each toilet roll.
5. The cardboard with the pyramid puzzle feeder attached can now be laid flat on the floor or propped against a wall and filled with your cat’s favourite biscuits or a few tasty treats.
4. Continue gluing the toilet rolls in subsequent rows of four, three, two and one until a pyramid is achieved. Allow to dry overnight.
Luckily, most of The Mayhew felines find their forever homes relatively quickly after arriving with us, but some may spend weeks in care while they wait for their forever home. Often these “long-stayers” can naturally begin to show signs of boredom, frustration and lethargy, which can, in some cases, lead to aggression and even depression. Behavioural stimulation is therefore vital in maintaining the health and well-being of the cats in our cattery. Social stimulation is probably the most important part of socialising our cats and we couldn’t do this without the invaluable time and dedication given by our volunteers. Every day volunteers spend the afternoons visiting with each cat, giving them much needed attention, affection and play-time. This could be as simple as sitting quietly with a very nervous cat, providing a warm lap for an affectionate puss, or 12
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tiring out a spritely kitten with toys and play. For the more frustrated cats, simple adjustments to their daily lives can make all the difference in helping to relieve boredom. Puzzle feeders are an excellent boredom buster for our cattery cats and can come in all shapes and sizes. But you don’t have to splurge in order to introduce puzzle feeding to your cat. Home-made puzzle feeders work just as well and provide a costeffective means of introducing a novel way of feeding into a bored feline’s daily routine. Using a few toilet rolls and a bit of sticky tape, you can easily create a pyramid feeder at home, or just a simple toilet roll filled with boiled chicken or a few treats can work just as well. Scatter feeding biscuits will also keep your cat on his toes and will encourage him to maintain his natural feeding behaviour, as cats generally prefer eating little and often. At The Mayhew we
encourage this by hiding biscuits in everyday items, such as scrunched up in a bit of newspaper, hidden in the corner of a cardboard box or inside paper bags (any handles should be removed first), again providing a cost-effective way of easing boredom. The cat’s environment can also be adjusted to create a more cat-friendly atmosphere and all of our cat cabins have a high shelf where our cats can feel safe and secure while viewing their surroundings. At home, high shelving can be used to encourage a cat’s natural tendency to climb and seek out high spots to view their domain from. Even clearing the top cupboard of your wardrobe would suffice for a safe, private area for your cat to survey their kingdom. Social stimulation is incredibly important in maintaining a close bond with your cat and also encouraging them to stay active. We promote
using toys that mimic the natural movement of a cat’s prey, such as feather wands or fishing rod toys. Our volunteers can spend hours playing with kittens in our specially designed, fully enclosed kitten garden, which further socialises our kittens in the outside world while getting them used to the sights and sounds of the great outdoors. We also place tunnels and climbing frames in the kitten garden to keep kittens active and stimulated. There are so many easy and cost-effective ways of socialising our cats and keeping them both physically and mentally stimulated while they wait for their forever homes. All of these methods can continue to be implemented in the home environment once you’ve brought your new companion home to help strengthen your bond and keep them mentally and physically active. By JoAnna Puzzo, Cat Welfare Co-ordinator www.themayhew.org
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Mayhew merchandise! We’re hoping that, by now, many of our supporters will have seen our neutering awareness campaign and the fantastic cat illustration that fronted this major initiative. We loved the reaction so much that we expanded our illustration range and have just launched a brand new merchandise range which is now available for sale!
Key rings These key rings make fantastic gifts for any animal-lover and a stylish addition to your own bunch of house keys. Sleek in their design and finished in zinc alloy, you can choose from one of three exclusive designs – dog, cat or rabbit. You’ll never lose your keys again with this fancy accessory attached to them! Size: approx. 4.5 cm x 2.8 cm £4.00
Roll-up water bottle Want to help The Mayhew and the planet at the same time? Well now you can with our fantastic roll-up bottle. This handy bottle is reusable and, when empty, can be rolled up and stored, weighing next to nothing. It’s the perfect accessory for any walk with the dogs. £3.00
T-shirts Our fashionable T-shirts are not only stylish but a great way to inform people about The Mayhew and our animals that need loving homes. Each T-shirt features one of the animal illustrations on the front and our website address on the reverse. You can also choose from two colour combinations – white T-shirt with a black image and text or black T-shirt with a white image and text, all 100% cotton. Mayhew supporters come in all shapes and sizes, so you can choose from either a loose men’s cut in small, medium or large, or a more fitted women’s cut in small (chest 34”), medium (chest 36”) or large (chest 37–38”). £10.00 Cotton shoppers Plastic bags are so passé! Our exclusive Mayhew branded cotton bags are a great way to support animals and help the environment all at once. These fab bags feature one of our new animal illustrations(choose from a cat, dog or bunny) and are made from 100% cotton. Our ecofriendly bags are a great way to shout your support for The Mayhew and the work which we do! Size: 42 cm x 38 cm £5.00 To order any of the items from our new merchandise range please visit our online shop www.themayhew.org/shop or call 020 8968 2446 14
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www.themayhew.org
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Happy endings One of the highlights of our work here at The Mayhew is when we have found that new forever home for animals who have been dealt a bad hand in life. Bernard Mayhew supporters will remember the story of Bernard who came into our care in February after he was found wandering stray with a severely injured leg. Many of you gave generously after reading the story of his road to recovery and when he was adopted in August, a troupe of staff turned up to wave him goodbye. We were delighted to receive this update about how he is settling in from the Bowen family. “Bernard is loving life in his new home, in fact he settled in with us on the very first weekend. He is a fun-loving and affectionate boy and likes to be at the centre of attention, taking prime position on our brand new sofa! Bernard loves to meet new people and is a little more cautious with new dogs as he is quite a boisterous boy. In fact you would never know that he is missing a leg from the way he bounds about. Bernard has some funny quirks. He loves to come in the car but, for some strange reason, he hates the clicking of the indicators. He’s a real character and likes to create a little bit of mischief; he did try to eat a box of very special Belgian chocolates one evening, luckily he did not get through the packaging! He’s such an affectionate boy and dearly loves the grandchildren who he desperately tries to play with. Bernard is a joy to be around and we cannot imagine the household without him now!”
Bernard then
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Plympton Road– Mayhew Street of moggies Our Mayhew animals get adopted all over London and the UK, as we want to make sure that we find the right new home for each of our dogs, cats and rabbits. There is one street very close to our rescue centre in north west London that has become a Mayhew street of moggies – with four cats now living only doors away from each other! Four years ago, Cuddles left The Mayhew to be our first rescue resident living on Plympton Road. Then, within a day of each other in August this year, three lucky cats were adopted to live on the same road. Little tabby Imi, who arrived with us as a six month old stray, went to live in her new home with Anna Hay. “Imi settled in immediately and has been amazing. She is so friendly - I have always been told that female cats are much less friendly but this is certainly not the case with Imi. In fact my one complaint is that she purrs so loudly I can hardly hear myself think! My thanks to The Mayhew’s Cat Adoption Officer, Matthew, who suggested Imi as the perfect fit for my criteria and the minute I met her I had no doubt that this was the case.” And a day later, kittens Danny and Shelia moved into their new abode with Joe Walton.
Bernard now
Imi
CJ
“Danny and Sheila are now Sammy and CJ, and they are fabulous. We are having so much fun with them. They are two gorgeous black domestic short haired kittens and are four months old. Sammy is the bold one, with his nose in everything. CJ is slightly shy, but is getting more confident by the day. They seem to love their new home and are exploring every corner. We chose to adopt them from The Mayhew because it does such excellent work for animals in the local area. When we visited it was beautifully clean with lovely motivated staff and all of the animals were loved and cared for as individuals. The fact that CJ and Sammy adapted to their new surroundings so well – their immaculate litter tray behaviour amazed us – is clearly down to the fantastic treatment they enjoyed at The Mayhew. We were also very impressed with the screening process run by The Mayhew – a centre visit, a house visit and application form – to ensure we were adopting for all of the right reasons.”
Mindy Mindy came to The Mayhew in a pitiful state. Dumped outside our doors and crammed into a cat carrier, she was ravaged by mange, leaving her skin red raw. After weeks of veterinary treatment Mindy made a full recovery and was ready to be rehomed. Fortunately for
Mindy then
Sammy
Mindy a lady called Jill had been keeping a close and concerned eye on Mindy’s progress and was desperate to offer her a loving home in Kent. Jill first read about Mindy’s story after seeing a newspaper advert with her photo in the Telegraph, taken when she first arrived (below left). Mindy now lives with Jill and, despite being nervous at the beginning, she is very settled and happy now. Each day Mindy goes for two long walks around the local beach, nature reserve and golf course and performs doggy acrobatics off the lead! Mindy gets on very well with other dogs and people, even attending a charity event with thirty other dogs recently. As her owner Jill told us, she’s also a very affectionate and sweet girl: “Mindy is like my little shadow, she sleeps on my bed at night and even brings me her favourite toy – a squeaky ball – in the middle of the night!”
See page 31 for some of our wonderful animals currently looking for new homes.
Mindy now
www.themayhew.org
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Staffies: the lovable dogs which nobody wants Staffordshire Bull Terriers, or Staffies for short, have felt the full force of the pet overpopulation crisis affecting the nation. Irresponsible breeding and a lack of neutering means that Staffies are the most common breed of dog to enter shelters up and down the country. Nowhere is this more apparent than here at The Mayhew. As a London-based animal re-homing centre we have witnessed first-hand the explosion in the numbers of Staffies. But our animal care team know just how wonderful this breed of dog is. Fun-loving, sweet-natured and active; Staffies can make great pets in the right homes. They are also intelligent dogs, full of energy and loyal to their owners. Maria, The Mayhew’s Deputy Head of Kennels, has cared for hundreds of Staffies at the Home and is full of praise for this lovable breed: “It’s such a shame that all Staffies are tarred with the same brush. Given proper training and care, Staffies can make a perfect addition to a household. They love to play games and please their owners - most of them love a cuddle too!” At The Mayhew we want to change people’s opinions about Staffies. Despite the negative reputation which often precedes 18
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them, and the media hysteria “Given proper training they often generate, Staffies are and care, Staffies can wonderful companions and make a perfect addition can be great fun, loyal and full to a household. They love of personality. to play games and please As with any breed of dog, a their owners” responsible owner needs to in adopters wishing to visit a match their home and home rescue centre Staffie. life to a dog which is suited to These dogs have been bred the environment. Many Mayhew Staffies can be suitable beyond demand and are often left unneutered by irresponsible to live with children or other owners. When puppies cannot dogs, as each Staffie has a be sold, or are given away for unique character of their own. Staffies are family dogs through free to unsuitable owners, they end up at the doors of rescue and through and love to be at the centre of human attention, centres, like The Mayhew. Additionally, cruel owners have making them very loyal and been drawn to Staffies, due to affectionate companions. their muscular build and When there is bad press about this wonderful breed it is boundless energy, to train them to use as fighting or nearly always the owners who status dogs. are to blame for perpetuating Unfortunately, for our the negative image associated Animal Welfare Team, the with Staffies and every time we abandonment of helpless see this happen, there is a Staffies is all too common. corresponding rise in the Week in and week out we see number of unwanted dogs, Staffies come through our as the knock-on effect leads doors and it becomes a difficult to undeserved ‘panic task to convince both potential abandonment’ and a decline
Toya
owners and the public that the fault lies with the person who abandoned or abused the dog, not the dog itself. We also take in Staffie females which have been used solely for breeding again and again and are then discarded once they are no longer profitable. Toya (above) is just one example of this; she came to The Mayhew malnourished and with painfully swollen nipples. She is now a sweet and affectionate girl, living happily in her new home alongside another dog. Staffies can make fantastic pets but they are very strong and intelligent animals that require owners willing to give them the right long-term training in order to provide them with a socialised and happy life. Every week we get updates from adopters of happily homed dogs who describe them as affectionate, friendly, entertaining and fun.
Matilda
Bella
“When there is bad press about this wonderful breed it is nearly always the owners who are to blame for perpetuating the negative image associated with Staffies and every time we see this happen, there is a corresponding rise in the number of unwanted dogs” Happily homed: Matilda “We brought home Matilda (nee Keekee) in August 2011 and she totally changed our life! She is our first dog and I don’t think we will be without a Staffie by our side ever again. She is now seven and has a few minor health complaints, but we’ve got her on a bespoke diet which seems to be helping and she looks great. She is active and a total charmer; everyone loves her. She is also the best pub dog ever – as long as she can sit on a chair or a bench so she can join us at the table, she will sit contentedly for hours.” Happily homed: Bella “Here are some pictures of Bella who was adopted in February 2009. She is now around four years old and has grown into a
beautiful, friendly, affectionate dog with a big smile. Bella was joined by Spike, an ex-stray tom cat who decided to move in even though Bella had recently arrived and was very bouncy. Spike turned out to be FIV+, but three years later is in good health and is now estimated, by the vet, to be around 12 years old. Sadly despite Bella’s easy-going temperament, people’s reactions towards her are not always so friendly, due to the small minority who give these dogs a bad name. Never judge a book by its cover I say.”
“Staffies are family dogs through and through and love to be at the centre of human attention, making them very loyal and affectionate companions.”
At The Mayhew we know that the numbers of unwanted Staffies in London and elsewhere are spiralling out of control, that is why in 2006 we launched the SOS ‘Save our Staffies’ Campaign and we now offer free neutering for all bull breeds. Our Community Veterinary Clinic welcomes enquiries from bull breed owners and you can contact them with your query or to book an appointment by calling 020 8968 2447 or emailing vetclinic@mayhewanimalhome.org www.themayhew.org
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Snap Happy winners We always look forward to the time of year when the entries come flooding in for our pet photo competition. Every time the standard just gets better and better and the results are now in! We are sure you will love the winners. In the last edition of our magazine we announced our annual photography competition: Snap Happy! We have been overwhelmed by the fantastic response and the calibre of the photos. It’s always extremely tough to pick the winners and this year the task fell to Yvonne White, our wonderful volunteer and professional photographer, who regularly comes to our rescue centre and to Mayhew events to capture stunning shots of our animals. Golden oldies Pheobe – Mrs C Shakespeare This was by far and away the hardest category to judge and make a decision on; there were so many gorgeous portraits. After a lot of mulling over, I finally chose Phoebe. It’s a lovely example of a good portrait, which has been nicely composed and doesn’t she look so serene and distinguished in her age and wisdom?! Water babies Jessie – Victoria Delgado-Scott Nothing is as much fun to watch as a lovely dog enjoying the waves! Camouflage Charlie – Deanna Conway The photo of Charlie is very good indeed, and he is so perfectly camouflaged in his sunny position that you would struggle to see him from much further away. It really shows how clever cats can be at hiding themselves.
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Best smile Bonnie – Margaret Flemming This is a gorgeous picture of a dog almost camouflaged against the leaves, but her big, happy smile makes her stand out. Well done! Lights, camera, action Pinto – Patsie Goulding A great photo - the expression on the dog’s face of ‘being on a mission’ is priceless and the composition and capture of action is very good. Caught in the act Felix – Frances Manthos – cat in cupboard If Felix could speak, he would be saying ‘no, honest, it wasn’t my fault, I just made a wrong turn at the bowl of tuna and found myself here’. This was another tough category, but Felix in the cupboard stood out as really epitomising that guilty look of being caught in the act.
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Sleeping beauty Luna & Dave – Cindy Cheetham Awwww… sums it up nicely! This is beautifully photographed – they’re a real pair of sleeping beauties – though again, there were lots of entries in this category, making it very hard to come to a decision. Comedy classics Jake – Val Chapman As soon as I saw this photo I was giggling. There is something about dogs and snow that always tickles the funny bone and this is a great example of a photo capturing a moment.
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How do I cope with the loss of my pet? The loss of a pet is something we all try to avoid thinking about. For most people, the death of a beloved animal is akin to losing a family member or best friend. After a pet has passed away it is completely normal to experience a whirlwind of emotions and it is important to remember that grieving is a natural process, one which we shouldn’t feel ashamed of or try to block out. You may never fully come to terms with the loss of a pet, but we hope that this article offers some useful information and coping tools for what can be a very traumatic experience. The very first step of the grieving process is to accept that you have a right to grieve and to experience a whole range of emotions. You may find that in the short-term you are able to bottle-up your feelings, but this will inevitably make the healing process a longer, tougher journey. Be patient with yourself The grieving process will vary from individual to individual. Some people may start to feel better after weeks while some may take months and even years to feel that the pain has subsided. Give yourself the time and space to grieve and don’t feel under pressure to move on with your life. Owners who have lost an animal may rush into taking on another pet in hope of filling the empty 24
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space in their life; this may work for some people, but for others it may be an impulsive decision. When the time is right, adopting an animal can be a very rewarding and enjoyable experience, but no animal will ever be a carbon copy or replacement for the one you have lost, so try to avoid making comparisons between the two. Share and express your feelings with others You may find that some friends and family members are not able to relate to how you feel, or the connection between a human and animals, but don’t let this hold your emotions back. Reach out to others who will be sympathetic of your experience; they may not be your closest family or friends but people who can relate to the loss of a pet and lend a sympathetic ear. If you find it too difficult to speak with others you may find some comfort in writing a diary, letter or poem about how you feel. Expect an emotional rollercoaster When a pet, who is a huge part of your life and day to day routine, passes away it can leave you feeling a whole spectrum
of emotions. During the grieving process you may experience feelings of denial, anger, guilt and depression, all of which are perfectly normal. In some ways it can help if you prepare for the emotional whirlwind. You may feel angry that your beloved pet is being taken away from you and similarly guilt, because you couldn’t do anything to save them. You will have given your pet a great deal of happiness, love and affection during their life and it’s key to remember that all living things can’t escape the inevitable. Try not to over-think what you could have done with the benefit of hindsight. Instead be happy in the knowledge that you cared for your animal to the best of your ability. Celebrate and remember your pet’s life You will have shared so many fond memories with your pet, so why not celebrate their life and all the happiness they brought you. You may want to create a memorial of some kind to help create a lasting memory of their life. Some owners choose to spread their pet’s ashes at a location which holds importance, such as somewhere they enjoyed
walking a dog or somewhere closer to home, such as a spot in the back garden. It’s important to remember the wonderful moments you shared with your pet over a period of months or years, rather than to dwell on their last moments or ill health. Look after your own health and well-being Losing a pet can have a devastating effect on an owner, leaving some people feeling lonely, isolated and confused. If your main source of interaction throughout the day was with a pet then try to make contact with friends, family or local groups such as day centres and religious groups. It’s also important to look after your health when a pet passes away. You may feel exhausted and distracted so try to give yourself the rest and nutrition you need. When you feel you are ready to take on a new pet, weigh up the situation and consider whether you are emotionally ready to build a relationship with a new animal. It can be heart-breaking and difficult to lose a pet but some owners find solace in adopting a new animal, knowing that they are offering a home to an otherwise homeless animal. www.themayhew.org
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Part of the team Matt Pearson, Cat Adoption Officer who joined The Mayhew in summer 2011.
Volunteer zoo keeper, sports writer and cat lover Matt Pearson talks about the difficulties and rewards of being The Mayhew’s Cat Adoption Officer. “One of my earliest memories is sleeping with my cat Dusty on the sofa and then charging around like a lunatic with my grandparents’ dog,” says Matt. “People always told me I should work with animals but I never did any qualifications in animal care.” Instead Matt studied journalism, creative writing and philosophy at University and worked as a volunteer at Whipsnade Zoo; highlights of which included weighing the baby penguins, 26
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hand-rearing a stork and working with the cranes. Matt continues to volunteer one day a week at Whipsnade and writes match reports for Watford Football Club in his spare time – he even plans to write a crime novel one day. “That’s what drew me to The Mayhew job; it was a mix of animal care and writing the cat biographies for the website,” he explains. As one of The Mayhew’s Adoption Officer’s, Matt is in charge of finding the best homes for The Mayhew’s cats and rabbits. This involves interviewing potential owners and carrying out home visits: “The main priority is the animal but we’re also trying to please the people who want to adopt. This can be a difficult task: Sometimes people want a cat to give as a present or to get rid of mice. You have to try and drill into them that those aren’t reasons to have an animal - cats aren’t just pets, they’re part of the family.” Some cats are easier to rehome than others; ginger cats or unusual breeds such as Bengals are always popular while many people see black cats as ‘unlucky’ or are apprehensive about taking on an animal with a medical condition. “We try to match those
cats with people who have experience, but often the cat will do the work for you,” says Matt. “For example, we had a cat called Cookie who was difficult to re-home. She has neurological problems and has a quirky side but she’s so friendly that a woman met her, fell in love and adopted her.” Aside from feral cats who wouldn’t cope in a domestic environment and are neutered and released again, Matt claims there’s no cat that can’t be re-homed: “We had a stray who’s battered and bruised with scars on his face and grey hair so that he looks really old - but he’s so affectionate, we’ve got several people who want to adopt him.” An important part of Matt’s role is writing the cat biographies for the website. “At the moment we’ve got a Norwegian Forest cat called Aslan who’s long-haired with really big paws. Lots of people are interested because he’s such a good-looking cat, but he’s actually very grumpy and will attack people sometimes – so I have to make this absolutely clear in his online profile.” At the time of writing this article, Matt has found homes for 251 cats, so far in 2012. Thanks Matt for being part of the team! Interview by Mayhew volunteer, Amy Blyth
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Christmas Fair Saturday, 1st December from 12:00–4:00pm at The Masons Arms Harrow Road nw10 5nu HUGE selection of Christmas cards, wrapping paper and fun gifts! Enjoy the festive spirit with delicious mince pies and mulled wine! Outdoor Winter Wonderland with children’s fun activities, crafts, games, PLUS a chance to meet Santa.
Tickets: £2.00 adults, £1.00 concessions and children All proceeds go directly to The Mayhew
For further information, visit our website www.themayhew.org/events email us at events@mayhewanimalhome.org or call us on 020 8969 0178
The Mayhew
Children’s
halloween Party Sunday, 28th October from 12:00–4:00pm at The Mayhew Animal Home
There will be ghoulish games, creepy crafts, pumpkin carving and a children’s fancy dress competition! Do you dare put your hand in the ‘guess what’s inside’ box? Are you brave enough to sample our scary treats on offer, can you handle a ghost story or two? Then why not come along, join in the fun, meet our black cats!
Tickets: £2.00 adults, £1.50 children and concessions All proceeds go directly to The Mayhew
For further information, visit our website www.themayhew.org/events email us at events@mayhewanimalhome.org or call us on 020 8969 0178
Studying to become a vet
Letters
At The Mayhew we always wish to be available to assist the training of future veterinary professionals and our Clinic team enjoys welcoming students to complete placements through which they can expand their knowledge and experience. Harry Collas always knew that his ambition was to become a vet after completing school and his first experience at The Mayhew was undertaking work experience in our kennels and cattery when he was 18. “I really enjoyed being able to work in a hands-on animal care environment when I was doing my work experience placement and, when staff heard how much I wanted to get into vet school, they let me spend a couple of days shadowing the vet team in the Clinic, which really helped me with my university application.” As part of Harry’s degree, he must spend a total of 22 weeks over a three year period completing clinical placements, as practical experience is just as vital as any study book. “I had already spent some time in Northern Ireland and also learning practical farm animal husbandry and knew that The Mayhew would be the perfect place to further my experience. Having already spent a little time there years before, I knew that it was a very busy clinic and a very friendly team.” During the two weeks Harry spent in The Mayhew’s clinic in July he observed many of the public consultations carried out by our team and assisted with the animals that are admitted for surgery. “I was able to observe a lot of surgery in the Clinic and assisted with the preparation; ensuring the area was sterile and the animals are clipped. During the surgery I also monitored the temperature, pulse and respiration of the animals that were in for neutering, dental or dew claw removal.” Our Mayhew vets act as mentors for students in the clinic and one of our team, Gen Wilkinson, worked closely with Harry during his time in the clinic “I very much enjoyed having Harry working alongside me whilst he was at The Mayhew. It is very rewarding showing students practical and diagnostic skills and seeing the rapid progress that can be made when they start to put their theoretical training into 28
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practice under our guidance. Having completed numerous placements during my own vet training, I know how daunting they can be, so I try to make it as enjoyable and as practical as possible, knowing what it’s like to be both sides of graduation! Everyone in the vet clinic enjoys working with and helping motivated and friendly vet students, like Harry.” At the end of his placement Harry was able to reflect on all the experiences he gained and how they will benefit his future training. “Although I am always supervised and monitored at The Mayhew, this is the first time I have performed a solo cat castrate and it was a massive sense of achievement. I’d also never completed a solo dog castrate before either –my testicle count is now up to nine! I was also able to improve on my dexterity as tying off the blood vessels post surgery requires practice and a lot of concentration. I love that I have expanded my knowledge with smaller animals. A lot of vet students are attracted to the glamour of working abroad and with large cats like Cheetah Rescue, but I love to know lots about cats and dogs, as so many people have them and when they ask for help I want to be able to advise and help them. The Mayhew’s Chief Vet, Ursula, said to me she has the best job in the world, which is so encouraging.”
Dear Mayhew, Sammy and Lily are doing really well. We have got into a pretty good routine with them, they sleep in their little den at night and then my partner lets them out when he goes to work in the morning and feeds him their breakfast pellets in a little “treat ball” which they worked out how to use straight away! They then hop round the whole flat all day – we found out quicker that shutting a rabbit out a room it wants to go in is futile! We also have got used to leaving them to hop round the flat if we are all out during the day too, which seems to be working fine. We have trained them to come to their names, although quite often when you call Sammy you get Lily and vice versa - but we
We absolutely love to hear from you, so if you have anything to share please get in touch by writing to The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ or email sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org
think they think it means “food” rather than “come here”. Lily is slowly getting much better at being stroked too, although always on her terms! Whereas Sammy is as soppy as anything as usual. They have lots of fun terrorising our possessions – apparently Lily does not like Richard Dawkins very much as she completely destroyed a copy of one of his books we left on our bed! They are so clever – we always try to play games with them when we give them their fruit and veg dinner, hiding the food in tubes etc. and they always work out how to get it! All the best, Clare and (X)
Hi Mayhew, I thought you might like a little Jimmy update! He continues to do well and seems very happy and relaxed with us. We haven’t noticed any health problems and although we have kept him on the sensitive food he has a healthy appetite and no stomach problems. He loves cuddling up with us in the evening and sleeps on our bed with us every night so he seems to like us! It goes without saying that he still goes mad for scrunched up bits of newspaper! Thanks again to everyone at The Mayhew for looking after him before he came to us. He has the loveliest nature and I’m sure that’s thanks to everyone who made a fuss of him! Best wishes, Rosie
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What’s on Whether you’re looking for a relaxing day out or a get-fit challenge there are plenty of ways to support The Mayhew in the coming months. Keep an eye on our webpage for event updates at www.themayhew.org/events
The Mayhew Children’s Halloween Party
Discover Dogs – London’s biggest dog event
The Kensal Flea boutique Christmas market
The Mayhew Christmas Fair
Tinsel and Tails special Christmas evening
The Annual Greenwich Park Santa run
Sun 28th October 12–4pm The Mayhew Animal Home Join us at the The Mayhew Animal Home to celebrate all things spooky. There will be ghoulish games, creepy crafts, pumpkin carving and a children’s fancy dress competition! Do you dare put your hand in the ‘guess what’s inside’ box? Are you brave enough to sample our scary treats on offer? Can you handle a ghost story or two? If so then why not come along, join in the fun and meet our black cats!. £2 adults, £1.50 children and concessions.
Sat 10th Nov, - Sun 11th Nov 10am–5pm Earls Court 1 The Mayhew will be at Discover Dogs again this year selling our merchandise and amazing Christmas stock, as well as talking about the work we do and our on-going projects. This is a great opportunity for us to reach out to new people who may not know about The Mayhew or the dogs we have for adoption.
Saturday 24th Nov, 11.30am–5.30pm Paradise by Way of Kensal Rise W10 4AE The Kensal Flea is a boutique flea market where you can shop, eat, drink and be merry. The atmosphere is buzzing with retro vibes and vintage themes. This is a Christmas special so you can be sure to can find all of those stocking fillers and more. The Mayhew will be selling all manner of goodies for that extra special Christmas present! £1 entrance fee to be split between chosen charities.
Sat 1st Dec, 12-4pm The Masons Arms, Harrow Road NW10 5NU This year we have decided to mix things up a bit and have a change of venue. We will have a beautiful selection of Christmas cards, wrapping paper and great gift ideas from our Mayhew merchandise range and exciting external stall. There will be a children’s area in the garden with fun and games and a chance to meet Santa while you warm up with a mince pie and a mulled wine as you shop!
Monday 10th December (6.30 for) 7pm-10pm St Paul’s Church, Hammersmith Come and join us and our celebrity friends for an exceptionally festive evening. There will be music, delicious food, plenty of sparkle, and a touch of glamour, plus, guests will be welcomed to this fantastic evening by some of our furry friends on our ‘red carPET’. Great atmosphere and entertainment guaranteed with a few surprises thrown in and the chance to bid for some amazing prizes in our celebrity hosted auction.
Sun 9th Dec Greenwich park Fancy joining 100’s of other Santas and run 5km/10km for our animals? Well then this is the event for you! If there was ever an event that exudes camaraderie and the Christmas spirit, then this is it! If you’re up for a great day out and a bit of fun, and feel you could raise £100 sponsorship for The Mayhew while doing it, why not sign up for this fun run?
For more information about all of these events, contact Lisa Houlihan on 020 8968 2445 or email events@mayhewanimalhome.org 30
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Find me a home Featured on this page are a few of our present residents. All of them have been with us for some time and desperately need a home of their own. They each have their own delightful quirks and may need more understanding than others.
Adopting an animal from The Mayhew If you would like to enquire about adopting any of these animals, or one of our other dogs, cats or rabbits, please call 020 8969 0178. You can also email matthew@mayhewanimalhome.org about rabbits and cats and lisa@mayhewanimalhome.org about dogs.
Coco
Louie
Ruth
Patch
Beano
Conor
Who can resist this face? I’m Coco and I’ve been at The Mayhew for far too long. I have a sweet, friendly and playful nature so I’d love to be snapped up soon. Could you be my forever home?
I’m Louie and I’m a big softie! I love to meet other dogs when I go for walkies and I’m learning to socialise with people. I enjoy playing but I’m a sweet, sensitive soul just waiting for my forever home!
I arrived at The Mayhew just skin and bones. Now I practically have my own fan club here and I love to meet and play with new people. I’m very affectionate and would love to cuddle up to you!
Please don’t let my diabetes put you off! I’m the most wonderful boy – friendly, playful and well-behaved. I don’t even notice my daily injections and I get on well with dogs, people and even cats! So what are you waiting for?!
If you’re looking for fun and cuddles all rolled into one dog, then look no further! I love to play with other dogs and greet everyone with a waggy tail. I’m very affectionate too – could I snuggle up with you?
Hi I’m Conor and I’m ten months old. I’m a very handsome boy, but don’t let my good looks fool you - I’m also super intelligent. I love to meet people and dogs and I can’t wait to visit the park with you!
Diamond
Francine
Minstral
Scottie
Hugo
Paddy
I’ve been at The Mayhew for over eight months now and desperately want to find my forever home. I’m a sweet little lady who just wants the chance to get to know you - together we can be thick as thieves!
I’ve really blossomed in my foster home and adore lots of fuss and affection, as well as playing with my foster carer. I’m on a special diet for my kidneys but I don’t let that hold me back, I’m a very happy gal!
I’m a super friendly bunny who just loves to snuggle up. I’d get on great with a fellow rabbit who is just as sociable as me. I love to scamper about, sniffing and hopping as I go. I can’t wait to jump my way into your heart!
I’m handsome and I know it! I love to be the centre of attention and I’m very affectionate. Once you meet me you won’t resist my charm, as I’m a cheeky chappie who’s itching to find my forever home!
I look like I’ve been through the wars, but once you meet me you’ll fall in love! I’m a golden oldie who’s been living as a stray, but I’m incredibly friendly and affectionate. All I need is a place to call home!
I can’t wait to hop into your life! As a sweet-natured girl I’d love to cosy up to a boy bunny so we can scamper about together. I’m getting more sociable every day, so maybe we can be friends?
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Diabetes in pets A pet’s diagnosis with diabetes needn’t mean the end of a good quality of life. Today, with good management, pets with diabetes can lead happy, healthy and long lives. Just as with humans, diabetes in animals is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin. The production of insulin by the pancreas is essential for enabling glucose to enter the cells, and, in turn, this glucose is then metabolized into energy. As the animal’s blood contains excessive glucose, unable to enter the cells, they will urinate frequently, expelling glucose at the same time. This loss of bodily fluids causes the animal to drink more in an attempt to replace them. Pets with diabetes will also have an increased appetite but, due to the loss of glucose, may also suffer weight loss. Therefore the warning signs of early diabetes to look out for are frequent urination, the need to drink lots of water, an increased appetite, unexplained loss of weight and lethargy. Tests conducted by vets will also show high levels of glucose in the blood and urine. It is important that you consult a veterinarian if you suspect that an animal is suffering from diabetes, as these symptoms may be the same as other diseases. There is no one cause of diabetes but animals which are overweight are more prone to the disease. Therefore it is important to exercise your pet and not over-feed them. There are three aspects of managing diabetes in pets, these are exercise, diet and blood glucose monitoring combined with insulin therapy. It is important to regulate your pet’s daily exercise and food intake so that they require the same dosage of insulin per day. Many owners worry about giving their pet daily injections of insulin and fear a bad reaction from their pet, indeed The Mayhew even takes in animals whose owners feel unable to cope 34
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with the disease. In reality administering insulin is an easy process. The needles used are far smaller than those used in other areas of veterinary practice and most animals don’t feel or seem bothered by the injections. The insulin requirement for each dog is different, depending on their weight and individual needs. Similarly, some dogs may only require one injection of insulin per day, while others will require two. An animal’s insulin requirements may also change once the disease is stabilised. For the owner of a pet with diabetes the most important aspect of managing the disease is monitoring. This means that a veterinarian should be consulted if you notice any changes in the behaviour or health of your pet. When a pet’s diabetes is being managed correctly they should have a normal frequency of thirst and urination, a normal appetite, stable weight and a good level of activity. One dog at The Mayhew which goes to prove that life doesn’t end with diabetes is seven year old Patch. A terrier-mix, Patch is a fun-loving dog that loves to go for runs and even a dip in the pond. His diabetes is easily managed by a special diet and twice daily injections of insulin. Patch is now so used to receiving this treatment that he barely notices it anymore. Patch’s foster carer Susannah has first-hand experience of his fantastic attitude towards treatment: “When Patch first arrived at my house he was so looking forward to his dinner that he didn’t even notice when I gave him his first injection. It was all done in a matter of seconds. I’ll admit that when The Mayhew offered me a diabetic dog to foster I was a bit hesitant – the thought of injecting a dog every day did made me think twice. But The Mayhew vets gave
me an excellent training session so I knew exactly what to do and expect. Patch has two injections a day of insulin with his food; he is such a good boy that he accepts it and never complains. Now I’ve had Patch I wouldn’t be put off by having a diabetic dog, as long as you stick to the rules - two meals a day, no treats and walks of half an hour or so. Once they’re stable it’s no different to looking after any other dog. Patch is such a lovely boy, he’s very well behaved and good with other dogs and children. Now he just needs a second chance.” Patch is now looking for a permanent home where he can receive lots of love and give even more back. He is great in the car and will need short, frequent walks. With the right management of the disease diabetic dogs can go on to live fulfilling lives. So why not think about re-homing a diabetic animal like Patch today?
To find out more about Patch, and all the other animals we have for adoption, please visit our website www.themayhew.org