The Mayhew Issue 30

The Mayhew Animal Home

The Mayhew Helping animals and their carers since 1886

Issue 30 Summer 2011 £1

Our new educational resources

Foster carers who change lives

How you’ve been helping Packed with prizes inside!

A swimming pool where it’s only ‘dogs allowed’

We believe that animals, as living creatures, are entitled to legal protection, moral and ethical consideration and have a value beyond economic measure.

The Mayhew and Petplan Insurance The Mayhew is pleased to tell supporters of our new relationship with Petplan, which is great if you are thinking of getting a new pet insured or changing your existing insurance provider. It is also great for us too, as The Mayhew receives 10% of your premium for the first year and every time you renew the policy.

Did you know 1 in 3 pets may require unexpected veterinary treatment each year?* Whilst advances in veterinary medicine mean vets can do more for your pet, treatment costs can soon mount up. We recommend Petplan insurance to all pet owners to help cover the cost of unexpected vet bills. Why not try before you buy?

For 4 weeks’ free Petplan insurance simply visit petplan.co.uk/4cv and quote our charity reference number 1077588. * Source: Petplan

The Mayhew Animal Home Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green London NW10 6BJ Tel: 020 8969 0178 Fax: 020 8964 3221 Email: info@mayhewanimalhome.org www.mayhewanimalhome.prg

for fundraising enquiries: Tel: 020 8968 2446 Fax: 020 8969 3902 Email: pr@mayhewanimalhome.org for events enquiries: Tel: 020 8968 2445

Email: events@mayhewanimalhome.org for veterinary appointments:

Tel: 020 8968 2447

Email: vetclinic@mayhewanimalhome.org

for fostering or adoption enquiries:

Tel: 020 8969 0178

Email: lisa@mayhewanimalhome.org joanna@mayhewanimalhome.org dogfostering@mayhewanimalhome.org Stay connected:

Contents 5 Appeal animals Mac & Flynn

24 Win big for our birthday!

An update to their happy endings

Enter our fab photo competition

6 News & Events Find out what we have been up to and get involved!

25 Find out if we’ve hit our target Have we raised enough to build our cats a new roof?

10 What’s on

26 Marc Abraham

Put these dates in your diary!

Interview with the TV vet and author

12 How you’ve been helping Read about some marvellous Mayhew fundraisers

14 Fostering

28 Humane Education Our new Care Guide leaflets

30 Part of the team Finance Officer, Oksana Bekesha

How foster carers help our animals

31 Your letters Wonderful animal updates from adopters

18 Shop til you drop!

Snap up some of our bespoke merchandise by celebrity designers

21 Get healthy walking dogs Find out why your four legged friend keeps you fit

22 Paws at the poolside

32 Find me a home

Our dogs, cats and rabbits available for adoption

34 5 minutes with...

Actor, Peter Egan

How hydrotherapy helped one hound

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We would love to hear from you, so if you have anything you would like to share with or ask us, please get in touch by writing to: Sarah Dickinson, The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ or emailing sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org

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Photographers: Caroline Brown, Lyndsay Scott and Rebecca Hadell.

Cover image: By Mayhew adopter Megan Trace Contributors: Sarah Dickinson, Paul Herring, Fran Llewellin, Caroline Yates Design concept: Grade Design Design: Deeper Media Ltd Print: Intygra PPL

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Trustees: Adam Halsey, James Hogan,Tom Pauk, Joan Dixon, Judy Purves, Joy Spanner, John Matthews, Fiona Ash, Peter Mardell, Svetlana Ignatieva The Mayhew magazine is printed using sustainable materials including vegetable inks and recycled paper.

Please recycle after reading.

Welcome Welcome to our summer edition! We’ve had a wonderful start to our 125th anniversary year with numerous animal adoptions and a lot of support for our call to action to raise revenue by Striving for 125!

The Mayhew’s services are still very much in demand more than a century later. Consequently, we are committed to tackling the present animal welfare crisis head on and have been speaking out in the media on topical issues of the day (page 6) as well as creating a new suite of educational leaflets (page 22).

With this rise in the number of stray and abandoned animals still presenting a very real difficulty for rescue centres, we have been throwing our energies into expanding our network of foster carers, who take in some of our cats and dogs into their homes on a temporary basis during their search for a new family. You can read about why this is of such critical importance to our animals, not only by freeing up much needed space in our facilities, but also by giving a very real chance to the lives of numerous cats and dogs that cope better in a home environment (page 14).

You can read all about the fantastic fundraising efforts by our supporters on page 12. In this magazine, you also have the chance to help us raise anniversary funds by shopping for our brand new bespoke merchandise, including mugs, bags and pet bowls! Wonderful products using exclusive designs made especially for The Mayhew by Joanna Lumley, Sue Perkins, Ricky Gervais and Fearne Cotton (page 18). Now if that wasn’t enough, you can also snap up a fantastic photographic print by Mary McCartney, some jewellery from Sparkipuss and the new book by Marc Abraham, ‘Vet on Call’, by entering our competitions.

“If you haven’t already visited us at our rescue centre in north west London, we very much hope to welcome you to our Open Day in July” Thank you to you all for all the support you continue to show to our Home and the animals in our care. If you haven’t already visited us at our rescue centre in north west London, we very much hope to welcome you at our Open Day in July, or bump into you on Hampstead Heath at our Dog Show on May 15th. All our events can be found on page 8 – we very much hope to see you soon!

“We are committed to tackling the present animal welfare crisis head on” Although we are celebrating our 125th benchmark, we are also acutely aware that, sadly,

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The Mayhew

Sarah Dickinson Media and Communications Officer

Happy endings We are always happy to wave goodbye to our animals as they set off to their new homes, but nothing puts a wider smile on our faces than when we know just how much they deserve happiness, following all that they’ve been through.

Earlier this year, we sent you the stories of Staffie Mac and tabby cat, Fynn, who arrived with us within weeks of each other at the end of last year, both in need of urgent treatment from our veterinary team. It appeared that both of these animals had suffered injuries after being involved in traffic accidents. Both Mac and Fynn were found by members of the public collapsed and needing help and were thankfully brought to The Mayhew. Our team of vets and vet nurses treated Mac for various wounds, including a deep gash behind one of his forelegs. On cabin rest for a while in our dog ward, ensuring that everything healed well, Mac made a fair few friends with staff.

This happy go lucky boy stole the hearts of everyone he came across. When he left for his new home in February we couldn’t have been happier to send him off to live the life he truly deserves.

The average stay for most animals in our centre is

around four weeks, so when we have long stayers, or animals on our clinic wards, many of us that look after them daily develop very close bonds. Tabby, Fynn, was also on strict cabin rest in our cat ward after treatment for his fractured pelvis and a subsequent hip operation. After three months of treatment, Fynn moved on to our Cattery. Within less than two weeks, Fynn had already charmed a new adopter and they welcomed him into their lives in March.

“We got three cats from The Mayhew in 2006, but sadly two of them are no longer with us. So we wanted another cat and we thought our remaining cat might like the company. We chose Fynn because he was one of the cats recommended as liking people and likely to get on well with another cat in the household. JoAnna showed us Fynn interacting peaceably with another cat at The Mayhew, and when we talked to him he seemed to be particularly friendly and good-natured.” www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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The Mayhew News round up Read about what we have been up to in the last couple of months, including why our CEO wants the government to sit up and pay attention.

Street gangs

Change needed now When The Mayhew heard in March that the British Veterinary Association publicly voiced their disappointment that DEFRA will not be publishing a code of practice regarding the welfare of rabbits, we wanted our voice to be heard. Here’s what our CEO, Caroline Yates, said: “Animal welfare and social issues are intrinsically linked – a fact that needs to be recognised by those running the country. There is a trite phrase often repeated that Great Britain is a nation of animal lovers, however, The Mayhew, dealing with the escalating rates of misuse and

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The Mayhew

mistreatment of all dogs, cats and rabbits on a daily basis, would beg to differ.

“Our recently refurbished accommodation for unwanted and abandoned rabbits is already full, but every day we receive a constant stream of calls about these unwanted and neglected creatures. This latest lack of action taken to end the suffering of thousands of rabbits in the UK highlights a much greater problem.

Animal welfare must not be sidelined by the government and DEFRA, but discussed, prioritised and addressed, taking social factors into account.”

Our Animal Welfare Officers run several successful Trap, Neuter and Return programmes for feral cats and have been inundated with work lately – trapping 35 cats from one small site locally – keeping that colony a small one contained and controlled for several years to come. Female cats can come into season every six weeks so that’s a lot of unwanted kittens!

The feral cats are trapped manually or with automatic traps and are brought to The Mayhew Community Veterinary Clinic for neutering and health checking. Once neutered and declared fit and healthy, our AWOs then re-release them, providing the habitat is safe.

Never give up on the unwanteds You will read more in this magazine about the lengths we go to in order to address the spiralling problem of unwanted animals and animal abandonment. We are facing an ever increasing battle in being able to take in the countless numbers of animals that we receive calls about, or that arrive at our doors. Tiny puppy, Halo, was found left in a cardboard box on a busy roadside green. Already unwanted at such a young age, he was small, scared and vulnerable to a multitude of dangers. One year old rabbit, Audrey, was, thankfully, saved from danger after several members of the public found her wandering near a very busy road.

Domestic pets are rarely in a position to survive on the streets, yet many owners often turn them out, or tie them up and leave.

Our kitten cabins are already starting to

fill up with tiny feline families, many with a domesticated mother who has been living stray.

For us it is all too clear – there are simply too many animals and not enough responsible owners. Please help us by sharing our message and getting the real picture out there.

Turn your bangers into cash!

We have been very lucky over the last few months to have received over ÂŁ1,000 through an inventive benevolent scheme where generous supporters hand over their clapped out motors to the organisation Give A Car who then magics it into charity cash! Our CEO appeared on BBC London, along with Give A Car Director,

Tom Chance, to show how this simple scheme means more money which can be turned into food, resources and veterinary supplies for our dogs, cats and rabbits. To find out more about how you can turn your old banger into cash visit www.giveacar.co.uk

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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The Mayhew

Sponsored dog

On Sunday 15th May we are asking supporters to put their best paw forward at our annual Sponsored Dog Walk and Dog Show on Hampstead Heath.

Join us for this fun day out to help raise vital funds for the Home, where there will be lots going on for you and your four-legged friend to enjoy, such as temptation alley, treats and toys and a fun agility course to try out.

Our own homeless dogs will get to enjoy a day out of kennels for the sponsored walk and also to star in their very own Mayhew dog parade!

They will be showing off their good looks and best behaviour – hoping that you won’t be able to resist their puppy-dog eyes!

As it’s our 125th Birthday this year, we would love for you to help celebrate with us by taking part in the sponsored dog walk and coming along to this fun day out. We are looking forward to seeing some of the many dogs that we have re-homed over the years!

Dog show 10.30am

Before setting off on the Sponsored Walk, we will be holding our fun Dog Show, where you can enter your pooch into a range of lighthearted categories. Think your dog’s got the waggiest tail in the park, then why not enter him into the show to find out! There’s no need to pre-register for the dog show, just turn up on the day to enter. Entry fee is £2 per category. The show will be judged by some of our celebrity friends including TV vet Marc Abraham.

Dog Show 10.30am, registration from 10am.

10.30 Prettiest Female 10.45 Waggiest Tail 11.00 Handsomest Male 11.15 Best Friends (children under

11 years old) 11.30 Veteran (age 7+) 11.45 Dog that the judge would most

like to take home

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The Mayhew

walk and dog show Sponsored dog walk 1pm

A fun four-mile sponsored dog walk around Hampstead Heath, taking in the magnificent views from Parliament Hill and Kenwood House. The walk is also open to those who don’t have dogs and non-Mayhew dogs, so bring your friends, your dog or just yourself. We would love to see you there for woofs, wags and walkies!

There is also a two-mile route available for those who would prefer a shorter walk.

Participants will receive a goody bag and certificate on completion of the walk.

To register for The Mayhew Sponsored Walk and to receive your fundraising pack, please get in contact with Fran Llewellin at events@mayhewanimalhome.org or on 020 8968 2445.

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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The Mayhew What’s on Take down your calendar, open up your diary and make a note of the fabulous ways you can get involved with The Mayhew this summer!

Kew Midsummer Fete, June 18th, 11am–6pm Take a trip to Kew Green on June 18th and join us at Kew Midsummer Fete. There will be lots going on such as a Victorian fairground, live music and local food. There will also be a small Mayhew dog show, featuring some of our dogs looking for new homes. We will be having a stall giving information about our work and the animals we have available for adoption, so do pop by and say hello!

The British 10K London Run, July 10th Want to get fit for the summer? Then why not join ‘Team Mayhew’ and be one of 36 supporters taking part in this year’s British 10K London Run for the Home. Join our team of 36 runners and help raise vital funds for The Mayhew. The six mile route will take you past many of London’s iconic landmarks and our runners will receive a Mayhew t-shirt, timing chip, free race photo download and of course lots of information and a great fundraising pack.

Talk by Jan Fennell, Sunday 19th June Dog Listener, Jan Fennell will be coming to The Mayhew to give a talk about dog behaviour, training and lots more. So come along if your dog has issues or if you’d simply like to learn more about our canine friends. For further info and ticket price please visit our website or call 020 8968 2445, lunch and refreshments provided.

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The Mayhew

Open Day, Sunday 17th July, 11.30am–4.30pm Well, it’s almost time for our favourite event of the year – The Mayhew’s annual Open Day! Visitors will be able to enjoy live music, great food and lots of gift stalls and activities. They will be able to take a tour of our veterinary clinic, see our cats and kittens in the cattery and will also be treated to a dog show featuring our very own Mayhew dogs that are looking for new homes.

Come and meet some of the loving animals that we have at the Home, take a look at our new rabbit area and enjoy tea and cakes or a BBQ in the garden.

It’s all set to be a great day, so why not come along and see behind the scenes at the Home. As always, well behaved dogs are welcome to come along and enjoy the day too!

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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How you have been After appealing to supporters to help us to Strive for 125 and get fundraising for our four legged friends, we have had loads of sponsorship pack requests! It’s not too late to join in!

Charity car boot Big thanks to wonderful supporters Maureen Burton and Gill Coleman who collect up lots of unwanted gems, goods and chattels and set up stalls at car boot sales in order to count up the cash to help us keep helping animals in need.

Knitting for a new roof We love hearing about the challenges that our supporters have been setting themselves in order to fundraise for us: you are all so wonderfully creative!

Dr Laura Miller will be knitting 125 blankets for our cats, followed by 125 catnip

bags – fantastic! Not only will we be able to add the money raised from the sales of the bags to our Roof Appeal, but Laura is raising sponsorship as well by asking people to guess how long this challenge will take her to complete.

Thanks Laura!

The animal-loving younger generation When Marlborough Primary School in Harrow got in touch to let us know that their children had got together and decided to raise money for The Mayhew, we were thrilled and invited them along to visit our centre. It just shows what an animal-loving younger generation there is, as children of all ages, from five years and up will be putting their heads together to run a great event for us and donate funds to our homeless cats, dogs and rabbits. A big thanks from all of us here!

“The children had a fantastic afternoon and it was a truly valuable learning experience.

They now can’t wait to start raising lots of money for The Mayhew” – Amy Gaiger, Marlborough Primary School 12

The Mayhew

helping

A celebration for cats Supporter Danielle Corgan has really thrown herself behind our mission to raise money for our anniversary and has organised a whole evening of entertainment to celebrate cats!

Join Danielle for an evening inspired to help homeless moggies with song, dance and drama plus a chance to bid for great auction prizes. Tickets £12.00 to include glass of wine.

For further info please contact Danielle Corgan at d.rcorgan@googlemail.com.

Visit www.cockpittheatre.org.uk for ticket reservations or call 020 7258 2925.

Thursday 9th June, (7.00pm for) 7. 30pm Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth Street, NW8 8EH. (off Church Street)

Friends fundraising Emma Blakemore and Sarah Randall decided that taking part in the British 10k Run for The Mayhew on July 10th 2011 simply wasn’t enough of a challenge. So our sporty pair of star supporters are also lacing up those running shoes to raise more sponsorship in October by also taking part in the Great South Run. What a fantastic pair of pals!

Get involved!

Get inspired to join in the fundraising fun by taking a look through our Strive for 125 leaflet enclosed with this magazine. Take up one of our suggestions for sponsorship, or come up with your own plan – we’d love to hear from you! For a sponsorship pack, contact Fran on 020 8968 2445 or 125@mayhewanimalhome.org

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Making a difference Many people are familiar with the term ‘foster care’ but do not realise the importance of this option for the animals in rescue centres.

The Mayhew has a wonderful network of foster carers, who make an invaluable difference to our dogs and cats in their care on a daily basis.

Foster carers are volunteers for The Mayhew Animal Home, who look after animals in their own home on a temporary basis, until a suitable permanent home can be found for them.

They enable us to care for many more animals than our onsite facilities would allow and gives some of our most needy residents a one-to-one environment where they can deal with the new and confusing situation they have found themselves in.

The biggest benefit of fostering is that you are helping an animal that has fallen on hard times, towards a better future. Sometimes, this can be

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the first time in its life that the animal has felt safe, cared for and loved. If you ever felt you wanted to make a real difference to an animal’s life, then please consider fostering.

We never have the room to take on as many cats and dogs as we receive calls for. This is where our foster carers are vital, as their role is caring for our animals whilst they are ‘between homes’ and in need of some extra special love and attention.

We have a long waiting list of animals needing to come into our Home, and not enough room to take them all – one extra foster home, could really make the world of difference!

Mayhew foster carers, like Mayhew dogs, come in all shapes and sizes. Single people, young families, retired couples. Some with big houses, others in small flats. They may already have dogs or cats of their own, or they may not have owned a dog since childhood. Yet they all share the same qualities – big hearts, loads of patience and unconditional love for dogs in need. They are invaluable to our work, providing safe and loving temporary homes for dogs who for one reason or another cannot cope with the stress of kennel life. They literally save dozens of dogs’ lives a year and give them a second chance at happiness. I love working with them. They are the best band of people I have ever met.

Wendy Henry, Dog Foster Co-ordinator for The Mayhew

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daily Susannah’s story “12 months after my beloved dog died, I really missed having a four legged friend around, a house is not a home without a dog. I didn’t feel ready to take on a 15 year commitment in getting another dog, so, as I had adopted my original dog from The Mayhew, I looked on their internet site for ideas and found out about fostering. After completing the form and a home visit from the foster co-ordinator, Jackie arrived. She was a 12 year old girl looking for a new home after her previous owner died.

Jackie stayed with us for five weeks.

After I got a phone call saying someone wanted to visit us and meet Jackie I burst into tears, it was a real shock that Jackie might go. Lesson One! For a foster carer the dogs are only guests, you love them and provide for them but they will eventually go

have had to return two which didn’t receive her approval. Although The Mayhew do cat test the dogs, sometimes in the home environment things work out differently. I don’t feel bad about returning a dog as they will go to another fosterer without a cat

“Some want to sit in your lap all the time and others like their own space. No two dogs are the same, even if they are the same breed” and you have to accept that. Jackie’s new family were lovely and I knew that she would have a wonderful life with them.

“I also have a cat and she has the final say on who is welcome and who is not! Out of the 10 dogs I have fosterered over the last 12 months I

and everyone ends up living in peace.

Most dogs move on quite quickly, normally within two weeks, although I have had a dog for several months as he was very overweight and we needed to get him in tiptop condition before being rehomed.

Each dog is different, just like people

they all have their own personalities.

Some are ball obsessed and only want to retrieve balls, others only want to walk around the street investigating other people’s front gardens. Some want to sit on your lap all the time and others like their own space. No two dogs are the same even if they are the same breed.

Both myself and the rest of my family have found this a really rewarding experience and am so happy to work with The Mayhew to offer this facility, it seems this is a win-win situation for everyone and I am so glad I became fosterer carer for The Mayhew.”

Susannah is currently fostering Mayhew dog, Buddy, who you can read more about in our Hydrotherapy article on page 22. www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Michelle’s story “The question people always ask about cat fostering is ‘how can you bear to give them back?’. I have chosen fostering because I’m not in a position to adopt. So the answer is easy: the best interest of the cat must come first.

A spell in foster care can make it easier for a cat to be chosen for adoption once he or she has returned to the animal home. Adoption means that one more cat is rehomed: that’s wonderful but, by fostering, I can help to prepare lots of cats to find permanent homes.

“It helps to remember that cats are sent to foster care for a reason.

A very nervous cat needs to get used 16

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to people; a stressed cat needs to relax; a cat who is recovering from illness or injury needs time and space to recuperate. If, at the end of the fostering period, we have a happy, healthy cat who is now a lovely pet, then it feels like a job well done. The foster cat is ready for a permanent home and we can be hopeful that one will be found.

“Fostering is hugely rewarding.

The cats are often nervous and may spend days, or even weeks, hiding.

But, with love and patience, the day

will come when the foster cat does not back away from an outstretched hand but stretches forward to give a sniff or even a little rub of the head.

One day, I might come home and find that, instead of hiding, the cat is waiting to see who it is. The best moment of all is waking up in the morning to find a contented cat peacefully curled up on my bed.

“Being a cat foster carer is perfect for me as I adore cats but am not in a position to adopt one. My flat is safe and comfortable but I don’t have access to a garden so it is not a suitable long term home for a healthy cat. Furthermore, I need to travel from time to time and may move abroad in the next few years.

I wouldn’t want to adopt and later have to return a cat to the animal home. Fostering means that I have all the pleasure of feline company and can help The Mayhew in their work.”

We foster out dogs and cats of all ages and sizes whose only problem is that they are between homes. It is a common misconception that all animals that end up in a rescue have behavioural issues; this is not necessarily the case – it is usually down to the previous owner’s change in circumstances.

The animals we are most likely to put out on foster are those who are depressed or stressed about being in the kennel/cattery environment, or those who simply need more quality time with people than we can provide within our facilities. A good home environment is quite simply the best for any pet animal.

“The best moment of all is waking up to find a contented cat peacefully curled up on my bed”

Claire’s story “I was attracted to fostering at The Mayhew because it is quite a small charity and as a result very personal. Everyone there knows all about each dog in detail. The website is very interactive with a webcam and videos of each dog and before I knew it, I was formulating online attachments to these dogs and watching the website daily to see who had been adopted etc. The biggest attraction however was the carefully thought out, loving environment. I felt confident that I was dealing with a long standing, caring organisation that wouldn’t give me a dog if they didn’t feel I was competent and would be there if I needed help. I contacted the Mayhew early December 2010 thinking there may be a surplus of unwanted dogs after Christmas and it would be a good time to start fostering. Their dog foster co-ordinator was an inspiration and gave me a realistic but reassuring insight into what to expect. I also felt reassured that I had support and advice 24/7 if there were problems.

Since then, I have looked after two puppies: Roman and Halo who have been very different in temperament.”

What do I get out of Fostering?

• Unlike adopting one dog, I get the chance to make a difference to many dogs.

• The ability to nurture and see a puppy develop.

• Playing a part in a dog’s future well-being.

• Personal development. I love learning about dogs – I am dog mad! I spend hours reading about them and enjoy getting the chance to work with them and learn from them. I have a check list of what they need – exercise, love boundaries, diet, socialising etc and invest a lot in trying to give them as much as I can in the short space I have them so that they will go and make happy, well-adjusted pets.

• A work life balance. The skills I need for my job and fostering are very different. Having an animal around me while I’m working keeps me motivated. It’s also amazing how many clients love to hear about what I’m doing and enquire about the latest puppy stories.

• Making people smile. If I’m travelling on the tube or out walking a puppy, it’s amazing how many people really do get joy out of seeing them.

• It’s very social. Again in London where people often don’t speak to strangers, it’s lovely how many people want to pet a dog and stop for a chat. It’s a great way of meeting people.

• Knowing you have helped a dog through often a traumatic time in their life.

If these stories have inspired you to consider becoming a Mayhew foster carer then why not get in touch?

There are five simple steps to becoming a foster carer for The Mayhew.

1. Call us on 020 8969 0178 and we will send you our fostering information pack.

2. Fill in and return your fostering application form to us. This form allows you to state the type of animal you are willing to foster and for us to find out more about you.

3. Come in to talk through your form and have a chat with a Mayhew Adoption Officer or Fostering Co-ordinator – this is also an opportunity for you to ask questions or raise any concerns you may have.

4. Receive a home visit so we can see where you would keep our foster animals, and also the surrounding area to ensure the safety of the animals.

5. If a suitable animal is available that would benefit from fostering, make arrangements to collect your first foster!

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Celebrate by shoppin To celebrate being the grand old age of 125, we have created a bespoke range of stylish, unique products especially for you. We’ve long wanted to have our own Mayhew merchandise selection and now we can proudly boast great items for our supporters to shop for!

Brilliant block pad

Whether this pad is sat by the telephone, on your desk, in your car or in your bag, it will make you smile when you tear off a page for notes as you take look at all four of our celeb doodles, one on each side of the pad.

Price: £4.50

Long handled canvas shopper

Be the envy of the supermarket aisles with our stylish shopper. One features Fearne Cotton’s design of her Mayhew cat Tallulah and the other is Sue Perkins’ doggy doodle. Made from 100% natural sustainable 10oz canvas.

Price: £5.00 350mm x 100mm x 400mm

Dog bowl

Every dog owner knows that getting the right dishes for dinner means less mess! You won’t see another bowl like this, as it is created especially for The Mayhew with Sue Perkins’ wonderful dog design on the base inside. To see images of this fabulous new product, shop online with us at www.mayhewanimalhome.org/shop Price: £8.00

Buy great gifts and support The Mayhew!

To order please use the order form enclosed with this magazine, or call Sue on 020 8968 2446.

You can also visit www.mayhewanimalhome.org/shop

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ng!

Terrific tea towels – 100% cotton

Celebrity artists To help us create our very own look and put a special stamp on our selection for sale, fabulous Mayhew supporters, Joanna Lumley, Ricky Gervais, Sue Perkins and Fearne Cotton all drew personalised designs especially for us. We absolutely love them!

ABOVE: Fearne Cotton and Tallulah

Dry your dishes and brighten up your kitchen with these special Mayhew tea towels which will bring a smile to your face every time you use them. Great for your own drying or as a gift for friends or family. You can choose between one with a print of Fearne’s cat Tallulah on it, or Sue’s dog.

Or, of course, you could treat yourself to one of each!

Price: £4.50

Short handled canvas shopper Perhaps you prefer a bag that can sit on your shoulder, but also be easily carried like a holdall. If so then snap up our short handled shopper and look great while you grab those groceries! Two different designs available of Sue Perkins’ dog and Fearne Cotton’s cat. Made from 100% natural sustainable 10oz canvas.

Price: £4.00 250mm x 100mm x 350mm

ABOVE: Joanna Lumley’s dog RIGHT: Ricky Gervais and cat BELOW: Sue Perkins’ dog

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Mayhew magnetic bookmarks

Always losing your place in a good read? Bookmark keeps dropping out? Well you never need worry again with these fab magnetic bookmarks. Their unique design means that they clip over your page and as the magnets touch on either side they lock together meaning that it will never drop off. We’ve created one for each of our designs as they are such a fabulous musthave little product.

Price: £1.25

Magnificent mugs!

These mugs will certainly brighten up your morning coffee or afternoon tea.

Why not grab one for yourself and another for a friend and you can toast our rehomed animals with a steaming brew. We have created two different mugs, one with Fearne Cotton’s wonderful cat design (above) and another with Sue’s doggy design (below).

Price: £6.00

Buy great gifts and support The Mayhew!

To order please use the order form enclosed with this magazine, or call Sue on 020 8968 2446.

You can also visit www.mayhewanimalhome.org/shop

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The Mayhew

Get walking!

It is official, not only are dogs our faithful friends, providing us with companionship and affection, but they are actually good for our health!

Any dog owner will tell you that there is nothing more pleasurable that taking the time to go for a long walk with your four legged friend and enjoy the outdoors and the sheer pleasure that dogs get from being out and about. But dog walking has been getting attention of late, as medical journals report that owning a dog can actually help you ‘meet your exercise targets’. It said that man’s best friend is not only a faithful companion but can also make us healthier.

According to new research, owners are 34% more likely to hit exercise targets as they walk their pets regularly.

One adopter who knows all too well how you can turn dog walking into more than just a turn in the park, is Melanie Sheegan who takes part in Canix events with her ex-Mayhew Samoyed, Ice. “Ice can be a handful at times (chewing up pretty much anything he can get his teeth round!), especially if he doesn’t getting opportunity to burn off the energy he has and the running has really helped with his behaviour. We trained together for around four weeks before the event, running three times per week, mainly around the local horse racecourse.

“Next autumn I plan to train the two dogs to pull our Dog-Scooter in harness and maybe even source a suitable sledge for them to pull if we get any decent snow. Some of the Cani-Cross events incorporate Scootering and Bikejoring Races, which look like lots of fun! My daughter has also shown an interest in running with the dogs, so she will take part in her first event when we go to the Wales during the Easter

Melanie and Ice before their Canix event

weekend – there are shorter courses for children (over seven years) and beginners.”

Training dogs in harness is a really great way for owners to bond with their dogs and also for the dogs and owners to improve their fitness at the same time. Bored dogs quickly become naughty dogs!

Canix is cross country running with your dog, where a harness keeps you attached to one another and can be for all levels of fitness. There are events regularly through the year, so you can meet up with other dog owners and have a great time socialising too – both you and your hound!

“I absolutely love walking dogs - both my own and the dogs staying at The Mayhew. Apart from the simple pleasure of taking my mind off things, it’s a brilliant form of exercise. My mate is a keen sportsman and tells me daily walking is far more beneficial than a few frantic busts at the gym every week. And my girlfriend’s bum’s got much firmer since she started helping out too!”

– Daily Star journalist and volunteer dog-walker, Joe Mott www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Paws at the poolside On arriving with us, animals may need medical treatment, socialisation, training or simply lots of TLC. But whatever the need, we are prepared to do our very best and for some of our residents, a therapeutic doggy paddle has proved to be just the trick.

Hydrotherapy for dogs is a therapeutic method embraced by veterinary professionals as a way to address certain conditions as an alternate option to medication, or in combination with treatment. It is also an excellent preventative method for breeds who may be pre-disposed to hip problems later in life, such as German Shepherds and Rottweiler’s.

When Springer spaniel, Buddy, arrived with us he was considerably overweight. His excess weight

“Buddy’s excess weight had dramatically impacted his health and, in combination with the arthritis in his spine, it was too painful for him to walk” had dramatically impacted his health and, in combination with the arthritis in his spine, it was too painful for him to walk for sustained periods and he regularly lost control over his back legs.

Goddards at Chingford kindly offered us the free use of their hydrotherapy pool in order for Buddy to exercise in a pain-free manner, lose the weight and strengthen his back legs.

Buddy’s foster carer, Susannah, takes him for weekly sessions, where one minute in the water can be the equivalent of a one mile walk. “When I first took Buddy on foster eight months ago, he would lose control of his legs a great deal, would tumble over and was

“One minute in the water can be the equivalent of a one mile walk” reluctant to go for walks. He was additionally nervous of interacting with other dogs – as perhaps they had knocked him over a lot in the past. After the weight loss and these swimming sessions, the change in Buddy has been incredible – he embraces his walks and his legs are strong 22

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enough to now jump into the car!”

Re-homing isn’t always as simple as bringing a dog into our kennels and then matching him/her up quickly with a potential adopter. When animals have long-term health conditions, our vets need to address this and time in a foster home is invaluable in keeping treatment consistent and therefore, at its most effective.

The Mayhew’s Chief Vet, Ursula Goetz, has been able to monitor Buddy’s progress, through his regular check-ups at our clinic. She is happy to see that her aim of getting him pain-free, lean and happy, is now coming true.

“Now Buddy is active for more than half an hour on each walk, he has lost almost 5kg, wags his tail and greets other dogs and hardly ever loses control over his back legs.

“His whole demeanour has completely changed. He is a different dog and the hydrotherapy has enabled his recovery and given Buddy a dramatically different quality of life” He has even started to jump up on people, which – though of course a behaviour which we don’t encourage – the pure fact that he can is amazing!

“His whole demeanour has completely changed. He is a different dog and the hydrotherapy has enabled this recovery and given Buddy a dramatically different quality of life.”

The Mayhew will continue to invest time, resources and love into setting our animals back on track and giving them the best possible chance for a new home and a brighter future. Buddy is currently looking for that forever home and for anyone considering welcoming this fabulous dog into their life, they can find out more about him by telephoning 020 8969 0178.

The Goddard Veterinary Group is very pleased to be able to offer canine hydrotherapy at their Chingford Hydrotherapy Centre. Today more and more veterinary surgeons and dog owners are aware of the advantages of hydrotherapy before and after surgery to speed a full recovery.

Hydrotherapy is a fun and beneficial way to treat many conditions, most dogs love water and swimming in their state-of-the art heated circular hydrotherapy pool is a safe, comfortable and carefully controlled environment which encourages low impact, non weight bearing exercise.

Following surgery, dogs can swim as soon as the stitches are removed and wounds are healed.

The warmth and natural water pressure of our pool is comforting and is an excellent way to reduce inflammation and regain mobility without putting unnecessary stress on jointed.

The pool provides real benefits to patients of all ages and fitness levels and is seen by clients as an invaluable addition to the total care of their pets.

To find out more about the services visit www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk

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Photo competition If there is one thing that makes for a fantastic pet photo, it is when your furry beloved has been caught doing something they shouldn’t!

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Cheeky snaps of cats in cereal boxes and dogs in dustbins have certainly been our favourite entries in past competitions, so we’ve decided that with only one shot in this year’s comp, the sillier the better!

We are in a celebratory mood, as it is our 125th anniversary, and are looking for something to make us smile. So if you’ve caught your kitten in the kitchen cupboard, or your dog dashing off with the washing, then send us your snaps and be in with a chance of winning an amazing print by a top photographer.

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Win!

The lucky winner of this competition will snap up this fabulous signed print from world famous photographer and Beatle daughter Mary McCartney (below)! Don’t forget to include your address with your entry, so the print can be posted to you if you’re lucky enough to win the competition!

Rules:

1. Entry costs £1.25 for every photo submitted. You can pay by cheque or debit/credit card.

2. You may enter the competition more than once.

3. By entering the competition you are giving The Mayhew permission to use your image in future magazines and website etc.

4. Entries must be received by June 15th 2011.

5. Photos must be taken by the entrant.

6. If taking a photo of someone else’s pet, you must have permission to do so.

7. Photos can be in colour or black and white.

8. Email all high-res JPEGs to sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org 9. Winners will be notified by letter or email.

10. If you would like your photo returned you must include a SAE. 11. The Mayhew cannot be responsible for any photographs lost/damaged in transit, so please do not send any irreplaceable photos.

12. If you wish to mail photographs, send to: Sarah Dickinson, The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ.

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Roof appeal update Thank you to everyone who has donated towards building a new roof for our Cattery! We have already raised over a quarter of the estimated £125,000 needed. If the generosity of our supporters continues like this, then our lucky cats will be getting a brand new roof in 2012!

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180 words What our new roof will look like if we reach our target

The facilities at our rescue centre certainly see a lot of wear and tear, but we have always aimed to ensure that our dogs, cats and rabbits have accommodation that provides the highest welfare standards and a relaxed atmosphere. This means spacious individual living areas, enriched with cosy bedding, toys and visual stimuli.

The present uPVC roofing can make temperatures rather stifling in the summer months and little shelter once winter comes, the

guttering is now not really fit for purposes and our kitten garden presently has no covered areas so cannot be used in bad weather.

The new roof will sit as a canopy over the whole Cattery and part of the kitten garden, meaning the tiniest felines in our care will be able to go out rain or shine!

To find out more about the full plans visit www.mayhewanimalhome.org/ roof

Win! To support our Cattery roof appeal, fab company for cats, Sparkipuss, have kindly donated some beautiful jewellery which four of our readers can be in the chance of winning!

Email your answers and your preferred necklace to sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org

by June 15th or send in to our address, which can be found on our contents page.

What is the name of the cat that spent time in one of our foster homes and also appears in our new Cat Care leaflet?

“I know you need to build a new roof for your kitties, so, although not much, this is what I can give to help towards your goal. I am so glad there are people like you in the world.”

– Laura Martinez www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Man on a mission If there is one man who would befit the phrase ‘if you want something doing, do it yourself’ it would be TV vet Marc Abraham. With a self-set goal to prove doubters wrong, his mission is to eradicate the horrors of puppy factory farms, and he is well on his way to doing just that.

In 2011, celebrity vet Marc Abraham could look back on his accomplishments and feel rather satisfied with himself. In his long standing professional career, he has appeared numerous times on television programmes advising the nation about animal care,

24-hour vet clinic to treat the cases that would arrive after a 9-5 vet surgery closes its doors for the day. A demanding career choice in itself, but the cases that Marc and his team witnessed during those long hours in his Brighton clinic propelled Marc to do more

“Looking back on it now, I can’t believe I managed to organise PupAid in only a few months after I first came up with the plan. Over one thousand people came and we were able to really show people the reality of puppy farming” started his own awareness-raising event ‘PupAid’ from meagre beginnings, his new book Vet on Call has recently been published and his first iPhone application, ‘Canine Care’, is launching this very month. Most of us would be inclined to give ourselves a little pat on the back!

However, Marc is not a man to sit on his laurels and reflect on past achievements, when there’s more to be done to address the grave failings in UK animal welfare standards. “People say you can’t sort it out, but I believe you can. Raise enough awareness and you will. That is my mission.”

This ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude is the foundation of Marc’s new book, which details his career establishing an emergency 26

The Mayhew

than just treat these cases.

“It was such a common sight on a Friday evening to admit puppies into the clinic, already attached to a drip and with the unmistakable stench of parvovirus rising from their frail bodies. Parvovirus is a horrific, highly contagious, and extremely painful disease from which puppies hardly ever survive. The owners themselves

conditions up and down the country, and within only days of the sale of these pups, the end is often a tiny sad body on a cold vet table.”

After an enquiry to put on a parallel event in the UK the same day as Puppy Mill Awareness Day in the U.S, Marc set out to uncover the sad truth about the cruel inhumane backstories of these poorly puppies that were ending-up in his own surgery – and so the idea of hosting an event marking Puppy Farming Awareness Day in the UK was born in 2009 – to help finally put an end to this continuous cycle of animal cruelty.

With increasing frustration about to boil over, Marc decided to take it upon himself to raise awareness, starting with his own event at Stanmer House in Brighton: PupAid. A unique celebrity-judged fun dog show

“I know that the real value of my media profile is to use it to raise awareness so that people realise the grave cycle of cruelty that accompanies the puppy they purchase” are emotionally over wrought and spend a fortune on treatment, medication and blood tests. Nine times out of ten there was never a happy ending for those puppies. Every day irresponsible breeders transport sick puppies from horrific factory farm

and music festival. “Looking back on it now, I can’t believe I managed to organise it in only a few months after coming up with a plan. Over one thousand people came and we were able to not only help educate visitors about the reality of puppy farming,

but to influence them enough to tell others. It can be incredibly hard to see how little is being done to stop these terrible puppy farms, but no good can come from wallowing in self-pity and I know that the real value of my media profile is to use it to help raise awareness so that the public realise the grave cycle of cruelty that accompanies these battery-farmed pups.”

PupAid 2010 was a great success; with more attendance on the day and support from a great number of high-profile celebrities. Marc hopes this public willingness to do something to stop the abuses of these dogs will continue at 2011’s event and he will welcome many more people and their dogs into the grounds of Stanmer House in the beautiful Sussex countryside. “I totally understand it’s extremely difficult for people not

to want take a cute puppy home with them when visiting a puppy farm dealer, look online, or even through a pet shop window – and just walk away with nothing. But they must get it into their heads that they are just perpetuating the cycle, stud dogs and breeding bitches kept alive in horrific conditions must now provide yet another new litter of puppies to be brought in as replacements and they are unlikely to have a happy ending. If you want a puppy or an adult dog, then always consider adopting from a rescue centre first – like The Mayhew.”

Marc will be sharing any profits raised from this year’s event between several charities, including The Mayhew. For anyone wanting to attend PupAid at Stanmer House, Brighton on Sunday September 18th 2011, can visit www.pupaid.org

Marc has kindly donated 10 signed copies of his book for Mayhew readers to win!

Just send the answer and your address to sarah@ mayhewanimalhome.org: “What is the date for PupAid 2011?”

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Education We will always have to deal with unwanted and abused animals unless we really get to grips with the overpopulation of animals and promote responsible pet ownership. Our new range of Care Guide provide information to do just that.

Our brand new range of Care Guide leaflets will be distributed across the capital, to help promote responsible and good pet ownership health and welfare standards. The Mayhew’s ethos is to help both animals and their carers and, even after 125 years of our charity’s work, we are even more committed to tackling the present crisis from all angles.

As numbers of dogs, cats and rabbits arriving at our rescue centre continue to rise, easily digestible information has to be

one of the key methods with which to tackle the abandonment crisis in the UK. Our Care Guide leaflets consist of advice on the following aspects of responsible pet ownership: Dog Care, Cat Care, Rabbit Care and Neutering.

We have also produced a complimentary range of leaflets letting people know how they can help The Mayhew care for animals in a variety of ways including fostering and sponsorship. One of them – our

Strive for 125 leaflet – is enclosed in this magazine. We hope it motivates you to think of fun ways to raise funds for our vital work!

Distribute our leaflets We are very keen to hear from companies, organisations or other outlets wishing to stock our leaflets. For more information please contact 020 8968 2446.

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The Mayhew

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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Part of the team Oksana has been Finance Officer at The Mayhew since September 2009.

Originally from Kiev in the Ukraine, she moved to London in 2000.

With a background in chemistry, accountancy and music (she plays the accordion!) Oksana has always worked hard, but was never quite satisfied with her job until she came to The Mayhew. “I was trying to imagine what my dream job would be like, and this is it!”

She had her interview, and the rest is history. “The last year and a half has gone by very fast.”

Oksana’s role as Finance Officer encompasses everything from dealing with every day financial tasks and monetary responsibilities, to invoicing, veterinary costs, donations, fundraising and payroll. Every minute transaction passes through her meticulous mind, into Sage 50, and gives The Mayhew a clear indication of how these crucial figures are balancing.

As a lifelong animal lover, The Mayhew’s ethos and charity status is vital to Oksana’s sense of job 30

The Mayhew

satisfaction: “It’s not just about accountancy; it’s about helping the animals.” She greatly misses her own cat, Simba, a very important member of the family in the Ukraine, who lived until the ripe old age of 18.

“In the Ukraine there is a different attitude towards animals.” Oksana describes the extent of poverty in the Ukraine, leading to a lack of infrastructure, resources and education, and how the animals are at the bottom of the social pile. Pedigree dogs and cats are valued for their looks, but dogs are mostly used for guarding property, or become part of the big packs of strays roaming the streets. No neutering programmes are available, leaving the animal population spiralling out of control, with inhumane culls being enforced. Knowing the reality of this, Oksana takes great joy in being part of The Mayhew and its “wise” beliefs.

The team spirit at The Mayhew is also very important to Oksana. “It’s a great team of incredible people with a good sense of humour and attitude.”

Aside from her full time job, she has lent her expertise as Russian translator for The Mayhew’s international department. “Being international means that I can see things from both sides.” The Mayhew Choir also benefited from her musical talents, having performed at various events in 2010, helping to raise funds and awareness: “It was an amazing experience!”

Oksana would like to adopt a Mayhew animal, but knows that the hours she spends at work are too long and it would be unfair to the creature.

This is often remedied by canine visitors from the kennels spending time with Oksana in her office.

The pups get to have some important time socialising and Oksana gets some creature comfort. “When I tell friends in the Ukraine about my job they are always amazed at what we do here, and say that I work very close to nature.”

Interview by Mayhew volunteer, Sarah Stirk

Your Letters Dear Mayhew

When we first saw Suki, she had her tail between her legs at The Mayhew Open Day, now she runs for London in the Royal Parks.

We adopted Suki on 4th August 2010. She is very feisty and confident, with her very distinctive voice. After all she has been through before being rescued, she is amazing. We are so blessed to have her, she only deserves the best and whether you are four inches or four feet tall, Suki will come up and sniff hello.

To date she has been with her new family to Liverpool by train, just unpacked her bags from a trip on the beaches of Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight.

Suki, we adore and treasure you.

Hazel and Michael Churney

Good morning Mayhew!

We are getting bigger and of course naughtier – we can jump wherever we want, we can get inside all boxes and bags especially with yummy food, but we love our home – the toilet and bath sink are our favorite places. We discovered that we can have lots of fun in the garden as well.

We have for you some pictures which we would like to share with you. Sending you lots of love Thank you for giving us our new home.

Best Wishes Archie and Stewie

Hi Mayhew

I think my friends think I’m mad as Jingle is all I’m talking about at the moment. I can’t believe the difference a week makes. He now goes in the garden on his own, before we had to stand with him. He runs around like a loony! The only problem I see is how to stop my daughter from stealing him when she comes over to meet him!

He really is the sweetest natured dog I have known and we are all really pleased he is with us.

Tracey Send us your letters We absolutely love to hear from you, so if you have anything you would like to share with or ask us, please get in touch by writing to Sarah Dickinson, The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ or emailing sarah@mayhewanimalhome.org

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

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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.

Eli

Flash and Jet

Pia

Fifteen month old Staffy Eli is friendly, bouncy and playful.

He loves going to the park and gets on very well with other dogs. He adores cuddles and likes to roll over for tummy rubs. Eli doesn’t like to share though and can be possessive over food and toys.

This behaviour is improving but he will need a sensible owner who will continue my training. Could this be you?

Flash and Jet and a pair of nine month old brothers rescued from a multi-cat household where over 35 cats were living together in one house.

They are a lovely pair who are completely inseparable and love nothing more than to snuggle together and snooze the day away. They were quite nervous when they first arrived but have blossomed since and a nice calm home will mean they can really grow in confidence.

Two year old Dobermann Pia is a sweet natured, timid girl. She’s small in size but has a huge heart.

She is very nervous of strangers but after getting to know you is affectionate and loving. She loves to give paw and enjoys a good tummy rub. Pia can be protective on the lead but is easily controlled with a head collar. She can be reactive towards other dogs when on-lead but off-lead is much more relaxed running around and playing with them.

Mindy and Jake Older pair Mindy and Jake are also looking for a home together. Jake, the tabby, is eight and his pal Mindy, is 10.

They enjoy a good cuddle together and will head-bump and wash each other, so could possibly be mother and son as

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they’re so close. Mindy likes a cuddle now and again but as for Jake, ignore the grumpy face! He’s the most affectionate boy you’ll ever meet and simple adores cuddles and love.

“Flash and Jet are a lovely pair who are completely inseparable and love nothing more than to snuggle together and snooze the day away.”

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 joanna@mayhewanimalhome.org about rabbits and cats and lisa@mayhewanimalhome.org about dogs.

Nerris

Christopher

Festive

One year old Nerris is an affectionate, sensitive and timid girl. She lacks confidence and is nervous of strangers, but it doesn’t take her long to make friends with people once introduced properly. Her affectionate and playful nature shines through. She loves to snuggle into people and bury her head under their arms. Nerris is young and excitable, so does have plenty to learn, but is learning manners and basic commands.

Ten year old Christopher is a very friendly boy who is toilettrained, well-behaved and responsive to commands. He walks nicely on-lead and has good recall off-lead. He travels well in the car and can be left for three to four hours. He is very friendly with strangers and children and gets on OK with other dogs, although if another dog shows aggression he will retaliate. This loving boy will make a lovely companion.

10 month old Festive is a sweet and shy girl who deserves a loving secure home. She is growing in confidence and likes giving you a gentle nose nudge. Do you have room for this timid rabbit?

Sinclair Sinclair is a three year old black and white male who arrived at The Mayhew as a stray but with his exceptionally friendly nature he really deserves a nice, warm home of his own.

A very sweet boy with a vocal nature he enjoys entertaining

visitors to his cabin.

Affectionate and inquisitive, he will happily greet everyone with plenty of chatter and can sit on your lap for as long as you’ll let me, as long as the fuss never ends! Sinclair will make a wonderful companion.

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5 minutes with Actor Peter Egan has a huge heart for animals, sharing his life with five dogs and dedicating his time to many rescue charities. We found out a little bit more about why dogs mean so much to him.

Peter with one of his dogs, Megan

What is your earliest animal memory?

When I was a child I was brought up in my grandmother’s house in North London. It was chaotic and funny. The two dogs added to the chaos and humour, a black Lab called Prince and a Welsh Border Collie called Bobby. They were wonderful friends.

Do you have any animals of your own? I have five rescue dogs, an old blonde Labrador called Sam, a Spaniel Collie X called D.J, a Lurcher Whippet called Fynne, a three year old black female Labbie called Cassie and my first ever Staffie, who is called Megan. I am thrilled to have Megan she is an absolutely delightful dog, very affectionate and friendly. I think there should be a Staffie awareness week to try to correct some of the horrible press these wonderful dogs get, and to confirm that the violence comes from the owner not from the dog.

If you could ask your dogs one question, what would it be? How do you manage to keep trusting and giving to mankind, who abuses and betrays you so much?

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What made you become such a pioneer for rescue dogs? My wife Myra and I have rescued dogs for about 20 years now. They are all wonderful creatures but I think there is always one dog who opens the door to your heart a bit wider. For me it was our Spaniel Collie X. D.J. We call him D.J. because with his black and white colouring he looks like he is wearing a dinner jacket. He is a great communicator and the Spaniel in him makes him seem like he’s listening to every word you say. Being an actor, it is the greatest compliment he can pay me. Once your heart is completely open you realise what an enormous capacity there is in your heart to give. Dogs are wonderful creatures, they teach you about compassion and giving, but perhaps, equally as important, they teach you how to receive, by giving back so much more than they get. We had a wonderful Collie X called Tucker.

He suffered from epilepsy; sadly we lost him to it last year. We had his company for eight wonderful years. It is as much for him and his memory and all the wonderful creatures, that I am a pioneer for dog rescue.

If you could be any animal for a day, what would it be? I’d like to be an eagle for a day and fly high and glide on the wind. It would be wonderful to fly other than in dreams. That’s one of the reasons I will never understand the pleasure people get from shooting. How can you shoot something that can fly?

“Once your heart is completely open you realise what an enormous capacity there is in your heart to give.”

Sponsor me Lola’s got something serious to say. Without The Mayhew’s help she’d never have found her loving forever home after having been abandoned. But she knows thousands more dogs in need of our help.

“Hello. I never thought that I would live anywhere else than with the people I had always known. But one evening I was woken up for a very late night walk and I thought maybe we were going for some exciting games as my owner brought my toys and bed along. We came to a quiet street and they put my bed down and told me to get in. They left me with my toys on my own. They shouted at me not to follow and I was so scared I stayed in that bed in the dark and cold for what seemed like hours. Then a friendly face found me and said I had been left at The Mayhew Animal Home but I was safe and not to worry anymore. They gave me a room of my own with a new bed and lots of new toys and lovely people came to take me for walks and play with me. One day some new people came to visit me in my room and said they would love me forever and I went to live with them. Because of The Mayhew I’m the happiest girl in the world, with people who I know would never leave me out in the cold.”

The Mayhew dog rooms Our dog rooms are literally rooms rather than the image of ‘kennels’ which immediately spring to mind – our dogs have secure rooms enclosed by four walls, with a comfortable bed and lots of toys, so they get less stressed and frustrated by seeing their neighbours and passers-by.

If you walk into our dog area it is quite peaceful, as the dogs are generally sleeping or playing with their toys, which illustrates just how relaxed they are. To aid enrichment, stimulation and

both mental and physical health, our dogs all get four walks a day plus extra socialisation time.

The vast majority of the dogs that arrive with us have few problems, they have just been let down by their previous owners and can be stressed and disorientated. The main purpose of our facilities is to prevent our dogs from developing any unwanted behaviours during their stay with us and our success in this area is second to none which is

testament to our caring staff, volunteers and first class facilities.

Please help!

Please help us to continue to provide our outstanding dog facilities by sponsoring a dog room for just £12 a month or £3 a week. Call 020 8968 2446 or visit www.mayhewanimalhome.org/sponsorme Our animals are at the heart of everything we do.

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