The Mayhew - Issue 23

The Mayhew

£1 where sold

The magazine of The Mayhew Animal Home

Issue 23 • Spring 2009

Brian Sewell

Committed to canine rescue Could Animal Welfare work be the job for you?

The Mayhew to Romania: A vet abroad

‘Dangerous Dogs’ Are they really?

Helping animals and their carers since 1886™

At The Mayhew we • Take in and care for

unwanted and abused animals and re-home them with responsible, caring owners

• Ensure that no healthy

animal in our care is ever put to sleep

• Prevent unwanted animals through our neutering and outreach programmes

• Promote respect and

compassion for animals through our activities, campaigns and education programmes

The Mayhew page

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Binned Bunnies

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Assessing Dog Behaviour

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News Round-up Fundraising Winter Round-up

Part of the Team – Nightstaff Mayhew Money Brian Sewell Interview Mayhew International

The Mayhew Animal Home and Humane Education Centre

Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ Tel: 0208 969 0178 Fax: 0208 964 3221 Email: info@mayhewanimalhome.org Website: www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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A Vet In-House and A Vet Abroad

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A Home Away From Home

21 22 23 24

Relaxing Company

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10 32 33

What’s On

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Your Letters

How To Help The Mayhew

Animal Classics Kids’ Stuff Why Be An Animal Welfare Officer?

Review of the DDA Find Me A Home Mayhew online

Fundraising and Publicity Office 1078 Harrow Road, London NW10 5NL Tel: 0208 969 7110 Fax: 0208 969 3902 Email: pr@mayhewanimalhome.org

‘The Mayhew’ is printed on paper from sustainable sources.

Please recycle your copy after reading

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26 With thanks to: Brian Sewell Photographers: Lyndsay Scott and Ashley Design: Fiona Jerome @ Deeper Media, fiona@deepermedia.co.uk / 020 7263 8857 Contributors: Caroline Brown, Sarah Dickinson, Ursula Goetz, Chris Sainsbury, Jill Eckersley, Carly Jack, Paul Herring, Karina Grubisic, Claire Harper, Anna Underwood, Zoe Hubbard, Fran Llewellin, Steve Bynghall, Roberta Passalacqua

Welcome

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elcome to the first edition of 2009, with our new design and new title ‘The Mayhew’. The Animal Home hasn’t changed, but we felt it was time for a fresh new look for our publication, giving us more of an opportunity to share with you the amazing stories of the animals

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in our care and the work we have been carrying out. There is a wealth of information to share with you as it has been an incredibly busy five months since our last magazine.

We have incredible survival stories of the animals that have arrived here – News Round-up (page 6), introductions to new staff members in our Veterinary feature (page 13)

and the pioneering community programmes we are running, including Pet Refuge (page 20).

Now if that wasn’t enough we also have updates from our fundraising team and news on how you can get involved in coming events to raise money for the home – check out our What’s On list (page 32).

Mayhew trustee James Hogan will be running The London Marathon for the 29th time this year and is kindly donating his sponsorship money towards the care of our animals. To find out more and add to his funds please telephone The Mayhew on 0208 969 7110 ext 4.

My gorgeous young friend in the picture is Bella, a young Staffie cross who was brought to The Mayhew as she was no longer wanted. Bull breeds like Staffies have a bad reputation as a result of irresponsible ownership and we are involved in many programmes and community projects to raise understanding and draw attention to the core problem of overbreeding. In only the first couple of months of the year, we have already had several young litters to rehome so cannot stress the importance of neutering strongly enough. To read how we feel about how this social issue of animal welfare needs to be addressed visit page 31.

I look forward to meeting lots of you on our Sponsored Walk on 26 April and I hope you enjoy the read!

Media and Communications Officer

Binned Bunnies M

any people may not consider rabbits when they think about animals arriving at rescue centres, in fact they may not even know that they are one of the most neglected pets in Britain.

The sad reality is that they are often left languishing in a cramped hutch at the back of a garden – a child’s novelty that has long worn out its attraction. Of course this is not always the case but The Mayhew has looked after its share of ‘binned bunnies’ –some of whom have literally been thrown out with the rubbish.

Comfrey and Burdock

This affectionate pair arrived in October last year after our Animal Welfare Officers responded to a call about a dumped hutch on a refuse site. The rabbits were rushed back for veterinary care as they had been left in a filthy, battered hutch and

were looking a bit worse for wear.

Thankfully, they just needed a bit of a clean-up and some TLC and soon bounced back on fine form.

Staff here were astonished as to why their previous owners would have abandoned them in such danger; they are very lucky rabbits indeed.

These two have very recently been adopted, which has pleased staff no end as they are real favourites with their friendly sweet natures. They even used to take part in our animal therapy visits to a local care home, where residents couldn’t get enough of giving them a cuddle. These rubbish tip rabbits love attention and now will have all they deserve in a happy home to call their own.

cardboard box over the Christmas holidays, but that is exactly what happened. Minnie arrived at The Mayhew in January after an animal lover had kindly taken care of her in her home after opening her front door one day and finding the box on her doormat. Looking after the boxed bunny over Christmas was as long as was possible for this generous carer and she knew The Mayhew would do everything to find Minnie a more suitable arrangement.

Happily in February this year Minnie was re homed with a family as an indoor rabbit and she even has her own partner to share fun and games with, Patches.

Minnie

Minnie is a beautiful young rabbit whose diminutive size and soft grey fur makes her instantly loveable to anyone who meets her. Hard to understand then why someone would choose to dump her in a The Mayhew

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News round-up

Our most recent rescue stories, including the incredible tale of Bear-dog who was rescued from Afghanistan

Afghan war dog arrives at The Mayhew

Bear-dog arrived at The Mayhew for a new start after escaping a life of dog-fighting in Afghanistan. A gorgeous giant of a dog, he is currently up for adoption at our Home in Kensal Green, London.

His arrival attracted a lot of media attention, as although he was rescued from Afghanistan at four months old, he still bears the signs of a dog prepared for fighting; both his ears and tail have been cut off. This is commonly done to young pups, as the shorn ears and tail are signifiers of a fighting dog and the lack of appendages mean the dogs have less to grab on to and the fight is prolonged.

Working as Mayhew International since 2006 we have worked alongside ex Royal Marine Penny Farthing improving the fate of Afghanistan’s fighting dogs. Mayhew International also assists in the training of Afghan vets at the Kabul University Veterinary Clinic.

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Simon & Tommy find a home Simon was only 10 days old when he was sold from a shoebox by a group of children. The young man who bought Simon did it knowing he was saving him from danger and sensibly realised he would need professional care to save his life. Bringing him to The Mayhew, Simon was hand reared by one of our night-staff and our vets discovered he was deaf – meaning a very special home would need to be found as Simon grew.

Far from being a timid kitten Simon grew in to a super-friendly, boisterous young cat and it was difficult for staff to find him the ideal playmate – as his enthusiasm was too much for some other kittens!

Finally, a perfect match was made when Tommy arrived – a kitten found abandoned in the snow in Britain’s coldest snap for over 20 years. The pair immediately hit it off and with perfect timing an ideal couple arrived with exactly the right home to provide security for an active deaf kitten – we were all thrilled.

It is common for white kittens like Simon to be born deaf

BBC wardrobe rescue!

In January this year, our Animal Welfare Officers (AWOs) were called to an intriguing case of a cat spotted hanging around the vast BBC prop department. We are assuming he must have been happily at home with the costumes and props until the cold weather set in, when he started to make himself known to the BBC staff. He was brought back to The Mayhew and fittingly named ‘Beeb’.

Luckily this handsome chap didn’t have to stay at the Home long as his oodles of charm quickly won over a new owner.

Throwaway dogs January Mayhew figures reveal dog owners’ ‘throwaway’ attitude.

The Mayhew Animal Home released its January figures for unwanted dog enquiries to highlight the growth in a ‘throwaway’ attitude to animal ownership. In the first month of 2009, The Mayhew’s Dog Adoption Officer received 162 calls about dogs that owners no longer want –126 of these being pure breeds of dogs – dispelling the myth that people don’t abandon, or give up, pure breed dogs. From the London area the list consisted of 36 different breeds, including Pugs, Schnauzer, Border Collies, Labradors, Spaniels, Pointers, Greyhounds and Great Danes.

The top reason given was that the owner simply ‘didn’t want’ the dog anymore, followed by ‘landlord won’t allow’, ‘new baby’, or ‘can’t afford’. The Mayhew Dog Adoption Officer, Lisa Guiney, said: “These figures are alarming and indicate clearly how the over-population of dogs in the UK means that people view them as disposable as it is so easy to obtain another one from numerous sources. To be this busy in only the first month of a new year is a shocking reflection of society’s attitude to animal ownership.”

EMPTY PRINTER & MOBILE PHONE APPEAL Since the commencement of the above recycling schemes we have raised £2,647 – so a huge ‘thank you’ to all supporters who have taken part.

The schemes continue and keep up the good work by sending your empty cartridges and mobile phones to EAH Recycling in the enclosed freepost envelope – every cartridge and mobile phone is much appreciated as the Mayhew Animal Home receives a generous donation for each one.

PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT RECYCLE EPSON LASER OR TONER CARTRIDGES For extra envelopes please call EAH Recycling on 01473 658161

The Mayhew

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Fundraising Winter 08 We look back at some of the activities that the Fundraising Department organised over the busy winter period and we also let you know how you can support the work of The Mayhew by getting involved in one of our upcoming fundraising events

Christmas Fair Christmas is a time that we all look forward to here at The Mayhew and on 22 November staff and volunteers arrived at Lauderdale House in Highgate to set up for our much-loved Christmas Fair.

We were visited by lots of our supporters on the day who picked up Christmas cards and gifts for their loved ones. Visitors also enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and the chance to win a prize on the ever-popular tombola. There were excited faces from the children meeting Father Christmas and we were also joined by actress Liz Smith who came along to say hello and pick up some Christmas goodies of her own. We would like to thank our volunteers for all their hard work; the fair was a great success and over ÂŁ2,700 was raised on the day! A fantastic amount for the Home.

Paws and Claws Motorbike Run On the 21 December our friends at Busy Bee’s Motorcycle club and The Ace Cafe came for their yearly Paws and Claws Motorbike Run to The Mayhew. It was a real sight to behold as around 30 of the bikers arrived in convoy to deliver much needed

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food and bedding for the animals at The Mayhew.

They were given a tour around the Home and were able to meet some of our residents. We would like to say a big thank you to all the bikers who made donations and came along on the day.

Celebrity Christmas Evening On 11 December The Mayhew held its second ‘Celebrity Christmas Evening’ which was a great success.

This special event was held at the stunning St John’s Wood Church in London and we were very lucky to have some of our famous friends performing on the night. During the first half, guests enjoyed light hearted comedy pieces from Fawlty Towers actor Andrew Sachs and Rudyard Kipling classic – Eddie’s Service from BBC’s New Tricks actress Sue Jameson.

Guests were also treated to music from the ‘Guardian Angels’ choir of The Guardian newspaper and an enchanting performance from a group of professional opera singers who are regular supporters of Mayhew events. The work of Mayhew International was also highlighted with a wonderful performance of traditional Russian

balalaika music by world renowned musicians Bibs Ekkel and Vanya Podzkopnikov.

During the second half of the evening Shakespeare In Love actor Jim Carter and Harry Potter actress Imelda Staunton entertained our guests with fantastic festive performances. The evening was rounded off with a reading from everyone’s favourite Nana from The Royle Family – BAFTA Award-winning – Liz Smith, MBE. The event was a huge success, raising over £7,700 on the night.

We would like to thank everyone who helped make the evening possible – including Pedigree for sponsoring the event, our wonderful volunteers and of course everyone who bought tickets to attend. We will of course, be celebrating Christmas this year with another special Celebrity Evening in December and we will give you further details later in the year.

From top to bottom right: Jim Carter and Imelda Staunton Celebrated balalaika master Bibs Ekkel accompanied by Vanya Podzkopnikov National treasure Liz Smith New Tricks star Sue Jameson Fawlty Towers favourite Andrew Sachs

Assessi When dogs arrive at The Mayh a new home we need to work

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“It’s important not to rely on first impressions as it’s unlikely the dog will be showing his true colours”

any of the animals who come into our care here at The Mayhew Animal Home arrive from unknown backgrounds; they may come in as a stray, or via our Animal Welfare Officers as a case of cruelty or neglect. When they arrive we may know nothing of how they have been brought up, if they have been socialised or how they respond to play and other stimuli. So that we are able to re-home the dog into the best possible household we need to assess their behaviour.

Initially when a dog arrives we will very quickly assess him, register him onto our system and treat him for fleas and worms. We can tell from that first meeting if he is scared, nervous, friendly or aggressive; but it is important not to rely on that first impression as it is unlikely that the dog will be showing his true colours. It takes time and patience for the dog’s true personality to come through.

Usually after this registration one of our kennel staff will walk the dog to better gauge its temperament.

Based on this the dog is assigned a colour. The colour denotes who is able to walk or socialise with him.

We have many volunteers who come and help us and they need to know which dogs are suitable for them to work with.

One of the first things to establish is whether the dog can happily live with another dog. This is important for many reasons as if we can pair

ing dog behaviour ew we often have no idea what their background is. So before they can be found out what sort of environment would suit them best two dogs together it is great for company, and also means the dog can be re-homed with other dogs.

From walking the dogs we can get a feeling for how the dog responds.

If there is immediate aggression and barking through the kennel doors we would think more carefully about mixing the new dog with a current resident, but it all depends on the individual animals and this is where the experience of kennel staff comes into play. If there are two dogs who may get along and make good kennel companions they will be introduced. This is a simple process of getting the two dogs together on leads in a neutral environment, allowing them a minute or two to have a sniff and say hello, then if there are no signs of aggression we will drop the leads and allow them to bond and play under supervision. If this goes well the dogs can then live together in kennels getting stimulation and companionship from each other.

Aggressiveness

Another important area to assess is whether the dog is cat friendly. It is a natural instinct for many dogs to want to chase cats, but some dogs may take this further and want to harm a cat. We take our dogs out into our cat garden – where The Mayhew semi-feral cats live. If there is an initial sense of aggression, pulling on the lead and trying to get to the cats then we would conclude that it would not be safe to re-home the dog to a household with cats.

Knowing how dogs react when food or toys are around is vital.

Sometimes a dog will become very possessive of his food or a certain toy and will not allow anyone to approach him whilst eating or playing or will not let anyone take the food or toy from him. This may stem from how he was raised and whilst we do not suggest removing a dog’s dinner from him whilst he is eating, it is not ideal behaviour. We test for this behaviour by using a fake plastic hand, offering the dog food and then using the hand to gently approach him and stroke along his back, gradually moving down to pull the dish away from him. If the dog displays any unwanted behaviour such as growling or attempting to bite the hand we know to take care when feeding and try to correct this behaviour.

Positive reinforcement

At The Mayhew we advocate positive reinforcement training which rewards the dog when he performs the required behaviour.

The reward can be food, play or lots of praise. To try and correct food possession behaviour our Dog Adoption Officer Lisa suggests giving the dog treats and his

favourite food items in his food bowl. If he won’t let you approach you can begin by throwing treats from a short distance away and gradually get closer to his bowl.

Eventually he will learn that someone approaching his bowl usually results in a treat and the aggressive behaviour will subside.

Unfortunately rescue dogs have a bad image, and often they are thought to have serious behavioural problems. However it is quite rare that we see such unwanted behaviours, and most of the dogs we re-home leave The Mayhew well rounded and well behaved, giving their new owners many years of trouble free enjoyment.

by Caroline Brown, Deputy Animal Care Manager The Mayhew

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Part of the team Take a look behind the scenes at some of the people whose hard work keeps The Mayhew running

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he Home looks after the animals in our care 24:7, meaning there must be staff present throughout the night to ensure all animals receive care, love and any veterinary treatment they may require. The night-staff are also on hand should any emergency cases turn up at the Home outside working hours.

Many may view it as an anti-social vocation, but the reward helping nurse some of the poorly animals back to health outweighs it all.

Here we introduce you to two of the team who we, and the animals, couldn’t do without.

Karina (pictured below) is 26 and has worked at The Mayhew as part of the night-staff team for three years; coming to the Home after leaving the NHS in order to find a job at an animal charity.

“I had no previous experience working with animals, only the experience I’d gained through caring for my own pets, so I was extremely Hand-rearing a 10 day old kitten

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grateful to The Mayhew when they gave me the opportunity to work as a night-carer based on my enthusiasm alone. The Mayhew at night is a totally different experience to during the day. There are only two of us working so it’s very quiet. We clean the clinic, feed and clean out the animals being monitored and spend quality time with them. We give treatments, including pain relief injections, should an animal need them throughout the night and are trained to monitor animals when

Roberta (pictured top) joined the night-staff team in 2009 after doing a three year NVQ course in Animal Care at The Mayhew.

“I have had animals all my life from chickens and geese to dogs, cats, birds and ferrets. I don’t think I could live without an animal in my life. I had always planned to work in an animal shelter as there is nothing they are under anaesthetic, as we also better than going home and knowing that you have made a difference to have to do a couple of day shifts per not only the animals but their new month and help out in theatre. owners as well.

“You do sometimes see upsetting “Now that I have finished my things so you have to control your NVQ course and am working as emotions at times. I still find this one of the night-staff, I spend as as difficult as the day I started at much quality time as I can with the The Mayhew. Seeing the cruelty sick animals and I love the fact I just makes me more determined get to watch them getting healthier to educate as many people as and stronger. To anyone wanting to possible about responsible pet ownership. The Mayhew paid for me work with animals I would advise following your heart and dreams but to attend an animal first aid course know that it is very important to gain and I like the fact that they give us the opportunity to further our career. knowledge and experience. You also have to be prepared to work hard The best part of the job, for me, is walking all of the dogs at the crack of and get stuck in to some dirty work in all weather. If you can do this dawn. They are all so excited to be then you will experience the most getting out and are probably dying fantastic rewards.” for the toilet and it keeps me fit!”

“Seeing cruelty just makes me more determined to educate people”

Mayhew money We try to spend your donations as carefully as possible, but as you can see below, running the Home costs around £3,460 a day!

Many readers of this magazine will be pet owners themselves and will appreciate just how much owning your own cat, dog or rabbit can cost. Sadly, that is often a contributing factor to why some of the animals arrive with us – people just haven’t planned financially for what a pet will cost them.

So, how do supporter donations help The Mayhew? Well, it isn’t just the cost of feeding the animals here that mounts up but the overall maintenance of the Home and our free and lowcost veterinary options.

Here is an insight into how some of the money is spent to run The Mayhew and look after our animals – working out at about £3,460 a day!

Annual Rates, electricity & gas: £8,500 Annual cost of running the three animal ambulances: £7,450 Drugs and surgical supplies, clinical waste etc: £100,000 for one year One in five animals will need dental treatment at a cost of £50 and all animals over eight years old will have blood tests on arrival to rule out diseases such as Diabetes.

This costs £20 each.

The cost of keeping animals

Medium-sized dog

Cat

Rabbit

Neutering: £75 Microchip: £20 Vaccinations: £22 X2 for primary course Flea: £80 a year Worming: £28 a year Food: £10 a week

Neutering: £25 Microchip: £20 Vaccinations: £22 X2 for primary course Flea: £64 a year Worming: £12 a year Food: £5 a week

Neutering: £25 Microchip: £20 Vaccinations: £50 Flea: £64 a year Worming: £12 a year Food: £6 a week

The Mayhew

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Brian Sewell

A man who is going to speak his mind regardless of whether you may agree, Brian Sewell has gained a formidable reputation over the years. However here at The Mayhew he has a loyal fan base, as he has been a great supporter of the Home for many years...

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rian Sewell’s last four dogs have all been rescues from The Mayhew and their escapades have often featured as part of his column in the Evening Standard.

Many readers were shocked in 2005 when Brian wrote a spread about Jack, an adorable fawn whippet who arrived at The Mayhew in a bad way after being found dumped in a churchyard. Newspaper readers were privy to regular Jack updates and in March 2008 they were introduced to the latest addition to the Sewell family home, Lottie.

Lottie, a cross breed with a bit of Boxer, a bit of Staffie and possibly a few others mixed in, was adopted by Brian after having been dumped on The Mayhew’s doorstep. Brian describes her as ugly, boss-eyed and boisterous; certainly not a delicate beauty. I popped in to see how Lottie was getting on and found a man more enamoured of his “loutish, messy and obstinate dog” than I’m sure he has ever been of the most epic work of art.

Before anyone can adopt a dog from The Mayhew a home visit must be carried out to make sure the potential owner is suitable. Having never carried out one of these visits to date, I now fear my benchmark may have been set a little high. Greeted by three wagging tails and lolling tongues on entry to the family abode I had to admit the decor was pretty stunning – we had just entered the home of Britain’s most renowned art critic after all. Walls were covered in beautiful paintings and prints, yet with more art around than you could shake a stick at those dogs only had eyes for one man.

I was welcomed by a beautiful German Shepherd and accosted by Jack, the ‘nervous’ Whippet, who dived headfirst in to my bag trying to sniff out any goodies. Expecting to be floored by the Staffie ‘exocet’, I noticed Lottie creeping backwards in to a doorway, looking a little perturbed by our entry into her safe, new home. “Don’t worry,” said Brian, “she’s always nervous of strangers, especially men.” Used to the

anxiety that some rescue dogs need time to recover from, I kept a respectful distance, watching Lottie ensure she was suitably wedged as close as possible to her new owner. If Brian was planning to get up and go anywhere, she was certain to be the first to know.

Talking to Brian about his background and why he got his dogs from The Mayhew is always interesting. He has had animals all his life and is committed to re homing from a rescue as he is all too aware of the situations a rescue dog may have experienced and how they need a stable forever home.

Freely admitting he gets jealous when he sees other dog walkers in the park with preened pedigrees, he just can’t justify buying from a breeder when there are so many dogs in need –the creed of The Mayhew to a tee.

One of the key issues at The Mayhew is the over-breeding of bull breeds, as we are seeing more and more of them arriving weekly, discarded by owners who haven’t thought through the commitment of dog ownership. “I certainly do notice people crossing the road when they catch sight of Lottie,” Brian mentioned as we discussed how the responsibility for dogs should always fall on the owner. A strong defender of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Brian has publicly advocated their suitability as a family pet as a result of their strong bond and loyalty to people. He understands that people who avoid Lottie are working on the stereotype that is still a significant part of the British public’s perception of the breed. Completely understanding the problem regarding status dogs, we are happy to have Brian at our side to champion the Staffie underdog.

By the time we were ready for photographs, Lottie had forgotten her concerns about our presence, doled out kisses all round and was happy to show us what a tidy little lapdog she can make by hauling herself onto Brian’s lap. Although she may not be the preened pedigree that Brian sometimes admires on walks to the park, it is clear she is irreplaceable.

By Sarah Dickinson

He just can’t justify buying from a breeder when there are so many dogs in need

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Mayhew Internat

On the 2 October this year Mayhew vet, Abdul Jalil Mohammad Zai, set off from Luton Airport part in a neutering initiative assisting some of the clinics set up to deal with stray animal man wagging their tails, they settled in to Mayhew life quickly with all dogs finding adoptive families very soon.

Mohammad said about his trip: “The facilities in the clinic were far from what we are used to in the UK and highlighted clearly how funds must be channelled to provide centres like this one with medical equipment to treat animals trying to survive on the streets.

“Hygiene is an issue that is all too prominent in many countries who are struggling to provide adequate veterinary facilities. We were able to sterilise equipment and use some anaesthetic medicines but it was, at best, basic and I would desperately love to see money streamlined in to standard clinic equipment, like operating tables, as we were carrying out all our procedures on improvised wooden benches.”

If you are interested in reading more about Mohammad’s work in Romania please visit www.mayhewinternational.org.

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ayhew International has had a strong relationship with Romania for several years, particularly with the organisation The Foundation for the Protection of Community Dogs, FPCC, started by British businessman, Robert Smith, who was moved by the plight of street dogs in Romania where he worked.

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Sending supplies This year we sent our animal ambulance out to the clinic teams in Bihor at the end of May and Mohammad and NVQ student, Aneil, went to retrieve the ambulance as part of their neutering trip, bringing back two street dogs with them who had been rescued by the teams in Marghita. Micro-chipped, neutered, wormed, flea-ed and

In January this year we arranged for a delivery of equipment to be picked up and dispatched to Romania. Included was a metal clinic table (plus sink), 12 shoreline cat cages, dog beds, collars and leads as well as food. This equipment will be used by FPCC and together we will help run neutering drives in Bihor, Marghita and other areas of North West Romania.

ional

to Budapest in order to take agement in Romania

International Projects Officer

International visitors to The Mayhew

We received a visit from Julia Demeshko (above) from Dzivnieku Draugs, a Latvian dog shelter. Julia spent her time on our dog section finding out about how we look after the dogs under our care from admission to adoption. Julia also shadowed our Dog Adoption Officer and gained an insight into the criteria we use to re-home our dogs and working with volunteers.

Mayhew International Online!

In May 2008 Mayhew International produced its first online site which we are all very proud of. Go to www.mayhewinternational.org and find out about all our news at a click of your mouse!

In January 2009 Mayhew International appointed a new International Projects Officer called Chris Sainsbury (pictured below) who has taken over the role since the departure of Joy Lee. Chris comes from a scientific background having studied Zoological Sciences and Modern Languages at the University of Manchester and Paris VI before completing a masters degree in Wild Animal Biology at the Royal Veterinary College. He is quickly having to get to grips with the projects and is trying to make a lasting bond with Sally the office cat who is currently ignoring him. We wish him well!

Become a Friend of Mayhew International and help alleviate the suffering of homeless dogs and cats worldwide.

Membership costs just £10 a year to join, or £5 for senior citizens and the under 16's.

Friends of Mayhew International receive the following: • Mayhew International Newsletter (published bi-monthly) • Mayhew International badge • Exclusive entry to Mayhew International events throughout the year If you have any questions about our International membership scheme, please email chris @mayhewanimalhome. org or contact us on 020 8969 7110 ext 4.

To send your gift by post, please make your cheque payable to The Mayhew Animal Home and send it to: The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, London NW10 6BJ. Our work would not be possible without your support thank you.

The Mayhew

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A vet in-house

The veterinary team here at The Mayhew is one of the very best. Caring, experienced practitioners who came from as far afield as Poland and Afghanistan and have worked in the field in Asia, Eastern Europe and the UK Mayhew vets Ursula Goetz and Abdul Jalil Mohammad Zai

A vet in-house

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ur vets often take part in trips abroad as part of the work of Mayhew International but have all done their fair share of helping out animals all over the globe before arriving at The Mayhew in North London.

New vet, Ursula Goetz, joined The Mayhew in January 2009 as her true passion is animal welfare and she wished to teach that high standard of care as well as furthering her own knowledge in surgery, especially in the small animal sector. Before working in our Community Veterinary Clinic, Ursula worked in the UK and Ireland and spent time in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia helping local charities in their welfare programmes and leading neutering

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initiatives – something which is crucially important in Asia.

With the ideal background and welfare values befitting The Mayhew, we were thrilled to welcome her onboard. “I have only been at The Mayhew for a very short time but can already say I am truly enjoying myself working with such a motivated, keen, fun team and the ethos of The Mayhew is felt throughout.”

Neutering update – free procedures double

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nnual totals from The Mayhew Community Vet Clinic in 2008 reveal that more

owners of bull breeds are taking the responsible step of getting animals neutered, using our free neutering scheme. The initiative really took off last year with 411 procedures carried out, compared to 206 in 2007 – seven new procedures a week in an area of London that has a very high presence of bull breed owners.

With the current climate of discussion regarding the overpopulation of bull breeds and their reputation as ‘status dogs’ The Mayhew is always keen to advise owners to neuter their dogs in order to reduce the number of unwanted canines arriving at the Home.

These free neutering procedures cost The Mayhew, on average, £100 a dog and are entirely covered by the Home. This means the Home spent around £41,100 in 2008 to carry out these procedures, but if we don’t act in this way then the cost for unwanted litters is all too great. Although our Clinic does ask for a donation, our free neutering scheme is available to all.

Neutering training for international vets at The Mayhew

A vet abroad

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he Mayhew Community Veterinary Clinic offers in-house training schemes as part of the International Veterinary Training Programme (IVTP) and it is fantastic to hear the responses from the vets who train after they have returned home to put their new knowledge into practice.

We are fortunate in the UK to have access to many drugs and procedures that may not be accessible or widely taught in certain countries. In order to pioneer these approaches, training on equipment such as gas anaesthesia and procedures such as cat spay by flank incision is essential for IVTP vets to learn.

Elena Tumashova visited us from Kyrgyzstan in July 2007 and reports back regarding the value of her experience: “Hello!

Everything is fine with me and I am continuing my work for the Veterinary clinic “Samson” in Bishkek. I often remember The Mayhew and all that I experienced and learnt.

Everything that Mohammad and your team taught me has now been put in to practice in our own clinic. I have also managed to pass on this knowledge to all the team.

“This summer at our clinic I gave further practical advice to students from the Veterinary Academy and showed them

methods of sterilization and castration.

Also in our clinic we now carry out free operations on castration and sterilization for homeless animals. The training I learnt on the programme was invaluable and I would like to pass on my best wishes to all of the staff at The Mayhew Animal Home.”

& a vet abroad The Mayhew

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Pet Refuge

The Mayhew can provide a ‘home away from home’ for animals when their owners are unable to care for them temporarily

T

he primary focus for The Mayhew is to act as a community based organisation, working on the key issues at the root of animal neglect and abandonment.

Naturally we wish to see every one of our dogs, cats and rabbits find the best homes, but it is equally important to address the contributing factors to why they arrive with us; to try and tackle the stray animal crisis currently affecting the UK. We also understand that where there is an animal issue, there is a social issue and to ignore this is to ignore the bigger picture – which is increasing the awareness of animal welfare issues, their impact on society and responsible pet ownership.

One of the community initiatives our Animal Welfare Officers (AWO’s) work on is The Mayhew’s Pet Refuge programme. This provides an opportunity for dogs and cats to stay in a foster home for

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short periods of time to ensure they can stay with their owner in the long run. Pet Refuge applicants may need to go into rehab, or spend time in hospital; they may be moving in to temporary accommodation due to a domestic violence situation or eviction.

For many people, their animals are such a fundamentally important part of their life that the fear of losing them may prevent them from doing what is necessary for their own health, or adhering to the law. Some elderly pet owners may have no-one they can rely on to feed their cat, or walk their dog and so put off hospital treatment due to concerns over who will take care of their pet.

If The Mayhew AWOs can act to keep an animal and caring owner together in a suitable environment, then it is far more important to work to achieve this than simply take animals away in the hope we can re-home them.

The Pet Refuge scheme can

generally be used for up to three months and Pet Refuge animals can be looked after by a foster carer in their own home; rather than spend the three months in The Mayhew kennels, or cat cabins. These foster carers are a vital part of the scheme which means The Mayhew can keep the space for needy animals and welfare cases. We are always looking for foster carers to help the animals accepted into our Pet Refuge scheme, as well as for the ones who have been abandoned or handed over and are waiting in the Home for a second chance at a happy life.

Being a foster carer is an incredibly rewarding and selfless act, as programmes like Pet Refuge provide a solution for people who have run out of places to turn to.

Although it can be difficult to have a dog or cat in your home and care for them knowing it is only temporary, this foster involvement means the welfare of the animal concerned remains the highest priority at all times.

Relaxing Company Sometimes a visit from a furry friend is just the thing needed to lift your spirits.

Learn how Trigger the Rottie has been doing just that at The Meadows

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t is well-documented that interaction with animals has a beneficial and therapeutic effect. It is additionally proven that spending time stroking a cat, or dog and enjoying their company can actually lower your blood pressure.

This is why pet therapy has become a very popular initiative for many care homes and hospitals to get involved in.

As part of our community programmes, The Mayhew regularly visits several local care homes with our dogs, who are eagerly anticipated by the residents. The dogs at the Home, who are suitable for the visits, are able to enjoy being showered with affection and make the most of being the centre of attention. It is a great opportunity for the dogs to get out of kennels in to a different environment and we find that some of the dogs that make the best therapy animals are often the breeds which have negative associations for some members of the public, for example, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Rottweilers.

Here at The Mayhew, we know that every dog has a unique personality and characteristics and it is their previous experiences that will dictate how they behave. Breed stereotypes are often so far off the mark and on recent weekly therapy visits one of the most popular dogs has been Trigger, a six-month old Rottweiler.

Trigger arrived at The Mayhew as a stray and we

couldn’t believe that no-one came forward for this soppy pup. While Rottweilers are strong breeds and will need an owner who is prepared for that as the dog grows, any Mayhew staff member will tell you that Rotties are one of the soppiest breeds, always looking for a cuddle and a tummy rub.

Trigger was no different and remained bouncy and friendly, during his whole time in kennels. His placid and pleasant nature made him a number one favourite with the residents of The Meadows, a care home local to The Mayhew. It is always a great pleasure to take dogs on the therapy visits, especially if we are able to dispel many people’s pre-conceptions of certain breeds of dogs, like the Rottweiler.

Trigger has now found a permanent home, where he is growing up as part of a big, happy family.

Top: All the residents want to pet Trigger

Animal classics

Whether it’s cats or dogs you favour, if you love animals you’ll love these new books.

Plus enter our competition to win a copy!

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World Vicki Myron, Hodder & Stoughton

Dewey, a fluffy orange kitten, was dumped in his local library’s ‘Book Returns’ slot, halfstarved and all but frozen, on an icy January morning in 1988.

Dewey was rescued by the library’s Director, Vicki Myron, who tells his story here. The library in Spencer, Iowa, a small town way out on the prairies of the Midwest, hadn’t had a cat before but Dewey soon made himself at home. Much loved by staff and customers, he became a local, national and then an international celebrity, with everyone from disabled children to Japanese film crews turning up to give him a cuddle.

Dewey’s story is inspirational, not just because it shows how important companion cats can become in people’s lives, but because the author and the town itself went through hard times too, and emerged stronger in the end. Iowa, a farm-based state, experienced difficult economic circumstances in the Eighties, with major conglomerates taking over what had been smaller family farms. Vicki Myron, a single Mum whose ex-husband was a heavy drinker, studied librarianship to provide for herself and her young daughter. The book is their story too and it’s a heart-warming read.

To win a copy of Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat, please email sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org with the answer to the following question: Which famous inventor and cat-lover said “The smallest feline is a masterpiece”?

One Dog At A Time

Pen Farthing, Ebury Press

One Dog At A Time is Paul ‘Pen’ Farthing’s memoir of his time stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Stuck in outpost Now Zad, Royal marine Farthing witnesses the mistreatment of a local dog. He soon starts to rescue the various strays he meets, initially by moving them into the soldier’s compound, and then getting his wife in the UK to help organise their movement to a dog shelter in a different part of the country.

The account is principally about dogs, so if you’re a dog lover there is plenty to read about here. He recalls how the dogs interact with humans and with other dogs in extreme conditions, and gives a moving account of their rescue.

The book however is much more than an animal-related story. It is also about what it is like to be a soldier in Afghanistan. Farthing’s matter-of-fact style and selection of anecdotes, successfully conveys the boredom, grimy reality and emotional detachment of soldiers fighting a largely invisible Taliban, although there is also humour and camaraderie.

It is fascinating how Farthing’s dog rescue project initially acts as a connection to his life and dogs at home, and gives some of the other marines a degree of normality as they socialise with the dogs in the compound.

Whilst the book will resonate most with dog-lovers, it also highlights the work of Mayhew International and the part it played in assisting the rescue of these dogs, so definitely worth grabbing a copy.

To win a copy of One Dog At A Time, please email sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org with the answer to the following question: What is the name of the dog that arrived at The Mayhew from Afghanistan in February 2009?

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Puzzled?

Can you figure out our fiendish brainteasers?

Pet Behaviour Take our quiz to find out how well you understand pet animals’ behaviour.

Answers at the bottom.

1. If a dog is wagging its tail it means it is: A: Happy B: Nervous C: Angry 2. When a rabbit lies still with its eyes open it is: A: Resting B: Sleeping C: Daydreaming 3. If a kitten pulls back its ears it means it is: A: Nervous B: Mad C: Frightened 4. When a rabbit jumps up and down it means it is: A: Stressed B: Happy C: Trying to escape

Can you find all the words below, hidden in the grid?

cat PT

ADO

foster RABBIT

CARE

D

FRIEN

Pet Behaviour Answers: 1a, 2b, 3a,b&c, 4b

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Why be an Animal In addition to the animal care staff, The Mayhew has four Animal Welfare Officers (AWOs). An centres, so our AWOs are extremely busy with educational programmes, working with the police Officer? Certainly it isn’t going to be the easiest job in the world and there will be some distressing aim has always been to prevent unnecessary suffering to animals. Through the educational programmes The Mayhew is addressing that.

Claire: I’ve always wanted to do a job where I could make a difference and help people. Being an Animal Welfare Officer at The Mayhew is my ideal job.

Q

Q

How long have you worked at The Mayhew?

Anna: Been here since Aug 2005, having previously trained at the RSPCA as a Veterinary Nurse.

Carly: Started at the Mayhew Nov 2005, I did nights for the first six months then went on to be an Animal Welfare Officer, which was a role I wanted knowing that I would be able to help animals outside the Home as well.

Zoe: Just over a year, but I have worked with animals since leaving school, including at other rescue centres and I am a qualified dog behaviourist.

Claire: I’ve worked at The Mayhew for two and a half years now. Before that I was at University studying for a degree in Biological Sciences specialising in Animal Biology.

Q

What made you decide to become an Animal Welfare Officer at The Mayhew?

Anna: I wanted to do something about animal cruelty in a productive way through education.

Carly: It is so important for us to talk to people daily about any of their welfare concerns, as it is essential they feel they can approach us with their problems rather than struggle on their own, meaning an animal may suffer unintentionally.

Zoe: I was drawn to the position as my main career

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What might a typical day’s work entail?

Anna: Any of the following: vaccination clinics, cases of neglect/cruelty, Pet Refuge, hoarding, general help and advice, BARK patrols, visiting travellers sites, making welfare visits to homeless shelters, educational school visits…the list goes on!

Carly: One day I might be answering calls regarding animals who have been found abandoned or wandering without an owner and another I might be giving a presentation to a local MP about the work we do dealing with Status Dogs in London.

Zoe: It is so varied and different welfare situations crop up all the time. It can be very challenging and stressful but at the same time very rewarding.

Claire: One day I could be arranging for a stray cat to come in, giving a talk about responsible ownership to children and helping a vulnerable person with their pet.

The next day I could be responding to an emergency call to an injured animal, trapping feral cats or promoting companion animal welfare in parliament.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

Anna: Knowing that I’m helping to educate the future generation of pet owners.

Carly: Feeling like you’ve made a difference to a least some of the many animals out there.

Zoe: It’s difficult to choose as in this job I have definitely reached my career goal. However, working on the Pet Refuge scheme is particularly rewarding.

Claire: In this job we deal with some heartbreaking cases but getting an animal out of a bad situation and watching them learn to trust people again makes it all worthwhile.

Q

Welfare Officer?

active presence in the community is vital to address why dogs and cats end up in rescue and local authorities and responding to animal emergencies So why become an Animal Welfare times, but those are vastly outweighed by the rewards of helping animals in need

Q

Do you have any animals of your own?

Anna: Morris my big meaty boy who I have had from before I came to The Mayhew. When we first met all he did was hide at the back of his cabin and hiss, now he follows me everywhere!

Carly: No. But there have been many over the years I have wished I could keep.

Zoe: In the past I have had a deaf Dalmatian and a very elderly cat, but at the moment I don’t have any pets.

Claire: I have two house Guinea Pigs Poppy and Pumpkin whom I adopted from The Mayhew last year.

Poppy was abandoned in a cardboard box outside The Home in awful condition. I took her home for some TLC and she hasn’t looked back since.

Q

What would be your advice to anyone who is thinking of working as an AWO? Anna: Just because you’re an animal lover doesn’t mean you’ll be right for the job. We are effectively social workers for animals meaning we spend a lot of our time dealing with the owners. You need to be patient, sympathetic but sometimes harsh and it is knowing which route to take that is the real talent.

On the positive side the job can be very rewarding.

For example, when an animal is rehabilitated at The Mayhew it gives you an amazing sense of pride and joy especially when you see it in its new home.

Carly: We have to be able to hold our own thoughts on how someone is treating their pet so we can prioritise helping that animal.

Zoe: As long as you are 100% committed then it is a fantastic way to make a difference to the lives of countless animals.

Claire: Volunteer! Get as much experience as you can working with both animals and people. A large part of the job is talking to and working with people from every social background who often have communication issues, to help the animal you need to work with the owner.

Far right: Anna Underwood and Zoe Hubbard This picture: Claire Harper and Carly Jack

Animal Welfare Wish List

New Animal Ambulance, including air conditioning and animal transport cages: £13,000 The Mayhew

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Dangerous dogs?

The new Dangerous Dogs Act has one major failing – breed-specific legislation.

The Mayhew calls for laws promoting responsible dog ownership

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t is completely understandable that after any dog attack the media will be attracted to the violence of the story. The public must have noticed that so called ‘status dogs’ are the new popular topic. However, while discussion centres on the same three areas – dog-fighting, dog attacks and banned breeds – politicians and spokespeople are missing the essential failing within the Dangerous Dog Act: breed specific legislation.

Early this year ITV screened a series of reports looking at ‘status dog’ issues. Our Animal Welfare Officers were interviewed and specific attention was paid

There is a climate of fear regarding dog attacks by specific breeds to a case study of Beth, a badly abused Staffordshire Bull Terrier crossbreed that came in to our care in December 2008.

Her story is a prime example of untraceable owner accountability and the extent of injuries caused by dog-fighting activities. Whilst Beth’s condition was shocking, what should horrify people the most is that there are very limited advertising restrictions on dog sales, indiscriminate breeding and no registration of ownership. Whoever

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meted out this terrible cruelty to Beth can easily obtain new dogs.

While it is possible to comment on the problems involved with dog-fighting and the resulting injuries to dogs and people, the constant overlooked issue is one of breeding; an aspect UK rescue centres are only too familiar with.

F

or the public, there is a climate of fear regarding dog attacks by certain breeds and at rescue centres we are witnessing high numbers of bull breeds arriving weekly. It must be stressed that it is not common for these dogs to arrive because of behavioural issues, but rather the over-population of the bull breeds means they are seen as a disposable commodity.

Instead of punishing people with a penalty system, more needs to be done to encourage responsible pet ownership and open avenues for owners to receive advice and help.

The idea of dog licensing can be seen to have negative connotations, but there are examples of alternative legislation in countries like Canada, where in some cities dog registration is compulsory and fees are reduced if you comply with responsible ownership guidelines such as neutering and micro-chipping.

The Mayhew will continue its vital work with community-based educational initiatives and provide free bull-breed neutering, funds permitting, at our Community Veterinary Clinic along with other low-cost vaccination, microchipping and basic animal health procedures and advice for pet owners.

Find me a home?

Featured on this page are just a few of our present residents. All of them have been with us for quite some time and desperately need a home of their own. They each have their own delightful quirks and may need more undersanding than others

Ashley

Phoebe

Ashley is very people orientated, so not keen on being left alone for long at all.

She’s a sociable lady aged 14, gets along well with everyone she meets and is very good with other dogs. Despite her age, Ashley is still a very sprightly dog and may be a little too lively for very young children. Second to cuddles she loves her food and will do anything for a piece of sausage. Ashley also really enjoys her daily off-lead walks in the park where she enjoys pottering If you are around. Well behaved, intereste d in adop toilet trained and ting any of th e animals responsive to featured on this pa commands, she’ll ge, or any oth er anima l at make a wonderful , please c all our m ain companion. switchboa

Poor Pheobe was in agony when she first arrived at The Mayhew as her collar had managed to get around her front leg and had cut quite deeply into the rd numbe skin, making it really painful for her to r on move around. Although Phoebe had a collar on, sadly no family came to look for her which we can’t understand as she is a beautiful loving girl.

She is about 1½-years-old and gets really excited to see people when they come to visit.

She’ll roll around and greet you at the cabin door but can get a bit startled and overwhelmed quite easily and take a while to approach.

Phoebe loves a real fuss to be made of her and will look at you dreamily to come and stroke her, but understandably it can take her a bit of time to trust new people.

Phoebe would be best suited to a nice quiet environment where her personality will blossom with a kind and patient companion. She doesn’t like other cats and therefore would need to be the only feline in the household. She may take a little bit of time for me settle but rest assured she will soon be a lifelong friend.

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Find me a home?

Rex Rex is a two year old male Jack Russell who arrived at The Mayhew after his owners decided to move home and left him behind. He is a feisty little boy with lots of character, is toilet trained and can be left alone for a few hours. Unfortunately Rex has not had the best upbringing and as a result of not being correctly socialized he suffers from fear aggression towards strangers and other dogs.

He is currently attending training classes, which he loves and these are really helping him overcome the fear of other dogs.

Rex can be very protective of his owner whilst on lead and care has to be taken to prevent him snapping at strangers. However he quickly forms strong bonds and have proven himself totally trustworthy around people and dogs he knows.

Rex is an extremely affectionate dog who loves to sit on a lap and if allowed would sleep under the covers with you! He enjoys playing with toys but much prefers a cuddle. He is a very clever boy who loves learning new tricks. His new guardians will be taking on a thirteen-year commitment, which must not be taken lightly.

Oats & Tibby

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Oats, or ‘Oatibix’ is a small black buck lionhead and he is really rather cute. He was very shy when he first arrived at The Mayhew, but now there’s no stopping him, especially if tempted with pieces of apple and parsley – he will take them straight from your hand.

Oats could live as a house or outdoor rabbit and you will find him a playful little lad. He loves sitting in his tunnel and always seems to be shredding some paper or cardboard! He is also an expert

at running up and down the stairs of his Mayhew accommodation.

Best of all Oats has a lovely girlfriend, Tibby, who is very good at jumping, so now he has someone to share his games.

Good things come in little packages and Tibby is a small, black marl-coloured doe, aged one.

Sadly, her previous carers didn’t want her and she was abandoned.

When she first came to The Mayhew she was very frightened but she is finally learning to trust

Ru

Bagpuss

Ru is a two year old female Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Collie crossbreed. She enjoys meeting new people, and could live with children over 14. She is good with some dogs but dislikes others, so will need to be kept muzzled on walks. Ru has excellent recall, is toilet trained, responsive to commands, travels well in the car and can be left for up to four hours if she’s had a run before hand. Ru’s new guardians will be need to have owned Staffie types before, and have plenty of time for walks, play and affection. For the right person Ru will make a fantastic companion.

If you are interes ted in adoptin any of g the an imals feature d on th is or any other a page, n imal at The M ayhew , pleas call ou r main e switchb o ard numbe r on 020

Bagpuss is here at The Mayhew after being found stray and because she’s had no owner for a while we’re not entirely sure how old she is, but our vet

says around ten.

An absolutely gorgeous girl, she has an irresistibly soft and beautiful semi-long fur coat.

She was very timid at first so when people were around she tended to shy away and stay rooted to her bed.

8969 0 178 We’ve noticed a big change in Bagpuss recently though and she is now happy to let people give her some people again. The best thing is that she now has her fuss, so long as she can stay in her comfort boyfriend, Oats, and they are often seen sharing a zone. She is very partial to affection and cabbage leaf or carrot and snuggling up together. Tibby it doesn’t take long for her to fall under a could be a house or outdoors rabbit but would need a fuss-induced trance! home with adults or older children to look after her as When she’s enjoying herself she can’t help she still get scared when picked up. Wherever she goes but let go and show how happy she is by though Oats will rolling around and showing the soppy side need to go with of her character! her!

Bagpuss would make an excellent Both seem companion for a gentle and patient owner very happy at in a calm household where she can build The Mayhew, but up her confidence and spend the days would really love a sleeping and receiving all the care and home of their own. affection she deserves.

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Mayhew online Get up to date online!

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t The Mayhew Animal Home, we’ve massively stepped-up our efforts to keep you up to date online. From our own pages on popular ‘social networking’ websites such as Facebook, Twitter and BeBo, to a few subtle additions to our website www.mayhewanimalhome.org, there’s a wealth of information out there, just waiting for the tap of your fingers on the keyboard.

On our homepage you’ll now find our news articles being updated a couple of times every week, and also a new ‘animal of the month’ section, instantly introducing you to a few of our favourite animals looking for new forever homes.

Speaking of animals looking for homes, a visit to our Adopt, Meet & Care section now reveals an attractive new ‘Forward to a Friend’ area on the page of each cat, dog or rabbit looking to be adopted.

Requested by our animal care staff, this simple area allows you to forward information about animals looking for homes to any friends or relatives who you think may be interested in adopting them.

If all this isn’t enough, we’re slowly getting each of the areas of our website into the hands of those who run each of the areas within the Home. This means our adoption areas are run by our adoption officers, our coming events area by our events coordinator, and so on; a guarantee that you’re getting information online as quickly as we can post it up there!

Amazon

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ne final area that’s getting regular updates online is our store on www.amazon.co.uk. Thanks to the tireless work of Mayhew volunteer Heidi Cornelius, our online store is choc-full of fascinating books, DVDs and CDs, and each sale provides money to support The Mayhew’s many projects. You can peruse our store on Amazon by visiting: www.amazon.co.uk/shops/mayhewanimalome right now. Buy a book and support us today!

Alternatively, if you have any new books or DVDs that you’d like to donate to The Mayhew please drop them into the Home, or send us an email to let us know at info@ mayhewanimalhome.org. Please note, we can’t accept second hand books unless they’re of high value as we simply don’t have the storage space.

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Online Magazine, Facebook and Bebo

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ent by email every two months The Mayhew’s online magazine is a fascinating brief read and features a number of unique stories that you won’t get the opportunity to read anywhere else. Taking a quick peek at our February issue reveals a round-up from our Chief Executive Officer, Caroline Yates, a guide to dog-friendly pubs, an overview of our Animal Welfare Officer’s educational programmes, and the happy tale of Boo, a cat who, thanks to The Mayhew and our wonderful supporters, found his perfect new home.

Our Online Magazine is simple to sign up to, and like all Mayhew publications, it’s totally free! Simply visit www. mayhewanimalhome.org and click ‘Online Magazine’ where you can both sign-up, and see examples of previous issues of the magazine. Of course after signing up, you can unsubscribe any time that you wish, and you have our promise never to pass your details onto anybody else.

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What’s On

Please tell all your friends about fund raising events at The Mayhew 26 April Spring Sponsored Dog Walk and Mini Mayhew Dog Show

Our annual sponsored walk is lots of fun and a great way to raise money. If you and your four-legged friend would like to take part please contact us for a registration form. Those without dogs are also very welcome. Supporters will each receive a free goody bag and certificate on completion of the walk! Hampstead Heath, setting off at 12.30pm

26 April London Marathon

Mayhew Animal Home Trustee James Hogan, will be running the London Marathon in support of The Mayhew. It is a huge challenge, so if you would like to show your support you can sponsor James via his Justgiving web page or call 020 8969 7110 ext 4.

12 July

The British 10k London Run

19 July

The Mayhew Animal Home Open Day

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Dust off your running shoes, because The Mayhew has a challenge for you. We are looking for runners to take part in the British 10k London Run. If you’d like to get involved and run (or jog!) on behalf of the home, then let us know.

Hyde Park Corner, start time 9.35 Always a fantastic day out for all the family. A great opportunity to visit the Home and meet some of our animals. There will be lots of activities to keep you entertained including face-painting, bouncy castle, dog show, stalls, demonstrations and a BBQ! The Mayhew, 12–4pm

The Mayhew

Helping hands

Charity support doesn’t have to come from your wallet. Here’s how you can help our four legged friends by supporting The Mayhew When it comes to supporting animal rescue centres people often feel there isn’t much they can do if they aren’t in a position to re-home an animal or spare the funds for a donation. However, even in times where we are all watching our pennies at home, there are tons of different ways our supporters can help by raising funds through several schemes and boost awareness of the work we do.

Spread the word

Email our website to friends and family and encourage them to take a look at the work we do.

Point your browser Make our website your homepage at work, our home page changes regularly so there will always be new news to catch up on.

Pen power

Write a letter to the Editor of your local paper explaining the importance of neutering pets and how readers can visit The Mayhew Animal Clinic for free neutering appointments to owners of Bull breeds

Pub-licise

Pop in to your local pub, or social club, and see if you can arrange a quiz night to raise some money from entry fees for The Mayhew animals.

Switch suppliers

Change your gas and electrical

supplier to Switch and Give, who could help you save up to £454 by switching, beating the price hikes.

Best of all for each switch a £20 donation is made to The Mayhew Animal Home at no cost to you.

They can chat with you about how important it is to socialise the animals, walk the dogs and help us out with some office tasks.

Unwanted new gifts

Let us know if you have any spare clean bedding, or towels that you can no longer use, that could provide comfy bedding for our rescue cats and dogs. If you live in the vicinity of the home in Kensal Green, then we welcome donations between 11am till 4pm in the reception area. However, don’t worry if you can’t reach us with your bundles, we can arrange for a pick-up! Just telephone 0208 969 0178 and we can arrange a suitable time for our driver to collect your donation.

Send us any of your unwanted Christmas gifts, like books or bathroom gift packs. The may be of no use to you, but they will make ideal raffle and competition prizes at our annual events.

Volunteer

Why not come and volunteer at The Mayhew, there is always lots of different things to help out with and we love to meet new people.

So if you have a free hour or day then why not pop in and meet our Volunteer Co-ordinators.

Clean sheets and towels

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Your Letters

We love to hear from you, so write and let us know how former residents are doing. Send your news and tips to: sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org

Hello Lisa and all at The Mayhew I just wanted to let you know how Mason aka Starsky is getting on now he is in his new home.

Mason has settled in great and has lots of fun with Bella, my other Staffie. He has made lots of friends in the park and loves to go to the beach on the south coast.

He certainly has grown larger and loves his food and is a complete poser with the females!

My only complaint would be the amount of room him and Bella take up on my bed. I’m lucky if I get the edge of the duvet and half a pillow!

I have attached some photos for you. Thanks so much for letting me adopt him.

Regards, Gary and Family Hello to everyone at The Mayhew We just wanted to write and say thank you soooo much for giving Ice a home with us. We are so happy to have him and he makes the whole family smile all day long.

We couldn’t have wished for a better dog and are so happy that we got him from your care. We are so grateful for Ice and just wanted to let you know how he’s doing, as he has fitted in very quickly and we just love him so much!

Here are some pictures of him at home, so you can see how he is getting along.

From all the family, Rema, Aree, Rini and Dini and ICE

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