Mayhew International wor ki ng to alleviate th e s u ffe r i ng of an i mals ab road
Spring 2014
Welcome
to the first edition of the Mayhew International newsletter for 2014. We are already well underway with our projects and plans for 2014 – it’s certainly going to be another busy year!
In this edition, we bring you a roundup of our work last year in order to demonstrate how your generosity enabled us to give animals and communities happier and healthier futures. The last quarter of 2013 was very busy with a second training trip to Afghanistan, participation in Mission Rabies in India and reconciling and collating the results of projects carried out during the year. In addition, we hosted an evening event at Burgh House in London, which was a wonderful opportunity to bring our supporters together to showcase the work of Mayhew International and celebrate World Animal Day. Thank you to everyone who attended for making it such a special occasion. We would also like to thank everyone who purchased cards, calendars and gift items from our Christmas catalogue in aid of our work overseas. Onwards and upwards together!
Immunisation against rabies.
Mission Rabies Mayhew International collaborated again with WVS (Worldwide Veterinary Services) and other organisations to achieve an ambitious plan to vaccinate 50,000 dogs in India within the month of September, culminating in World Rabies Day on the 28th day. Working together with our colleagues at HOPE and Animal Trust, the city Ranchi was chosen as one of the focal points of the Mission. With a target of 5,000 dogs to vaccinate over two weeks, the HOPE team were joined by our Chief Vet, Ursula Goetz, and one of our Animal Care Assistants, Josh Keegan, along with a team of volunteers from around the world.
At the end of the month, Mission Rabies had smashed its target of 50,000 dogs vaccinated, reaching 60,935, some 5,374 of which were carried out in Ranchi. The huge success in Ranchi has ensured that Mission Rabies will continue alongside the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme and Education Officer post sponsored by us in 2014.
A vaccination against rabies – a lifesaver for people and animals.
Mayhew Animal Care Assistant, Josh, helping not only dogs in Ranchi.
Paws Expel Troubles In November last year, Yentl Hofwijks travelled from Russia to spend a week at The Mayhew Animal in London. Yentl is the co-founder of PET (Paws Expel Troubles), a project which seeks to save homeless dogs and cats whilst promoting the importance of human-animal interaction. She was keen to know more about our own community initiative, TheraPaws, to inform her work in Moscow. We caught up with Yentl on her visit… I first travelled to Moscow when I was 18 years old. I fell in the love with the city and later returned to work in a private shelter because I wanted to change the image of stray dogs.
Our work can be challenging. It is still an unknown field of work so people in Russia can be hostile. However, their hostility is towards stray animals and not the project. We’re working to change attitudes.
In May 2013 I founded PET with my colleague, Natasha Bystrova. We wanted to create a project that would not only help save homeless dogs and cats from the streets, but also show people the importance of human-animal interaction for a healthy existence in society.
We have huge ambitions for PET. We want to open a pet education centre and have shelter dogs available for adoption. I first heard about The Mayhew whilst volunteering in Moscow. I met the CEO, Caroline, who told me about your work and I became your friend on Facebook! The Mayhew has always been supportive and happy to help where they can. I have really enjoyed my time at The Mayhew. I have been on eight TheraPaws visits, taking kittens and dogs to meet residents in local care centres. It’s helped me identify how our programme could run in Russia and I have lots of ideas to take back with me!
Yentl on a TheraPaws visit with The Mayhew in London.
Project Roundup Thanks to your continued support and generous donations in 2013, we were able to achieve the following: In Nepal We supported Animal Nepal’s Mobile Response Team in Kathmandu to: • Neuter 636 dogs • Treat 473 sick and/or injured dogs • Vaccinate 1,214 dogs against rabies. In Moscow • With Fond Dingo we neutered 283 cats and dogs. In India • We neutered and vaccinated 1,050 dogs in two rural villages in Andhra Pradesh with VSPCA (Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals). • Supported HOPE and Animal Trust in Ranchi to neuter and vaccinate 8,194 dogs. • Sponsored HOPE’s Education Officer to visit 104 schools and reach out to more than 30,000 school children. In addition… • Mayhew vets carried out training programmes in Afghanistan, Georgia and India. • Vets from Lebanon and Japan received training at The Mayhew’s clinic in London. • Six food and preventative care parcels were delivered to Romania and Greece. Together we can achieve even more in 2014!
Top: Recovering after surgery in Moscow. Middle: Educating future generations about compassion towards animals in India. Bottom: Dr Mo, the Nowzad team and Don recovering well from his ear operation.
Afghanistan Mayhew International’s Dr Mo returned to Kabul in October for another month’s intensive vet training at Kabul University, the Nowzad Clinic, and at Tigger House for the Afghan Stray Animal League. Dr Mo also met with authorities regarding a rabies vaccination project and an initiative to tackle street dog populations. Whilst at the Nowzad Clinic, Dr Mo installed their gas anaesthesia machine, training their vets on its use and how to monitor vital signs during surgery. He even managed to find time to carry out complex ear surgery on a US government dog, named Don, who was retiring and going home after several
Dr Mo training vet students at Kabul University.
years of duty in Afghanistan. The operation was a huge success and Don flew home in time for the New Year! At Tigger House, time was spent concentrating on pre and post-operative care and hygiene protocols, which will help reduce potentially fatal infections.
Dr Mo monitoring a cat spay using gas anaesthesia at the Nowzad clinic.
Please keep in touch with Mayhew International. We love to hear from you: Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mayhewinternational Sign up to our e-Newsletter: www.mayhewinternational.org/newsletter Donations telephone: 020 8206 5870 Email: international@mayhewanimalhome.org
Mayhew International