Mayhew Magazine Spring 2015

The Mayhew

Help us grow our Community Vet Clinic

Health & obesity issues

The Mayhew’s work with the homeless

TheMayhew Animal Home

Issue 41

Spring 2015

Helping animals and tHeir carers since 1886

The Mayhew _ Spring 20152

Mill Lane Veterinary Surgery Advanced medical care for your pets

Proud to support The Mayhew Animal Home

Joshua Rusnak BVSc CertSAS MRCVS

68-70 Mill Lane , London NW6 1NJ www.mill-lane-vet.com

020 7794 1777

www.themayhew.org 3

to the Spring 2015 issue of The Mayhew! Thank you for all your support over the last few months and we hope you enjoy reading all the latest news and updates from The Home. From everyone here, we wish you a happy and prosperous Spring.

Welcome

Our mission: Helping animals in need gain a better quality of life by delivering a broad range of community-based animal care, education and welfare projects.

ContentsOur achievements in 2014 4

News update 5

Help us grow our Vet Clinic 8

Our volunteers 10

Amazing Grace 12

Find me a home 14

Dog adoption month 16

Ask the expert 18And they lived happilyever after... 20

The Mayhew’s work with the homeless 22

Your letters: Adopted & loved 24

Training programmes at The Mayhew 26

Events round-up 27

World Spay Day Back cover

TO MAKE A DONATION OR TO GET IN TOUCH

Write to: The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar

Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ

Telephone: 020 8206 5870

Email: [email protected]

Visit: www.themayhew.org

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter @themayhew

Photographs: Yvonne White, Bonnie Baker,Graham Hilling, Olivia Hemingway

Please pass on to a friend and recycle after reading.Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Registered charity no. 1077588Registered in England and WalesCompany limited by guarantee no. 3837732VAT registration number: 820 4030 87

2014 was an incredibly busy year at The Mayhew and we couldn’t do it without your support. Here are some facts and figures about what you helped us to achieve last year…

Our Achievements in 2014

We helped 113 dogs find

new forever homes

We neutered 2371 animals

We reunited 64 lost dogs

with their owners

1393 animals were microchipped

We responded to 501 animal welfare cases

We found loving homes for 484 cats

1925 animals were vaccinated in

our clinic

the mayhew _ spring 20154

www.themayhew.org 5

News updateONE lONG-STAY CAT GOT A VErY SpECIAl CHrISTMAS prESENT!Unwanted and abandoned by her owner, Binki came to The Mayhew in May last year as a very timid and scared cat. While she was with us she spent time in a foster home where she blossomed into a sweet, confident cat who loved nothing more than being cuddled and fussed over. She couldn’t wait to find her forever home where she would get lots of attention all day long. We are happy to announce that Binki found her new forever home in December, after being with The Mayhew for many months, and finally got to go to her new home just before Christmas. That’s the best Christmas present we could want for this special little cat!

Our YOuNGEST FuNDrAISErEdmund Mitchell, one of The Mayhew’s youngest fundraisers ever, decided he didn’t want presents for his eighth birthday last year, and instead asked his friends to donate money to The Mayhew!

“I already have lots of stuff so I didn’t need any more presents. I’d rather help the pets at The Mayhew as I love animals. I’m going to do it again next year,” the inspiring 8-year-old told us.

The Mayhew’s Melissa Freeburn, who accepted the donation from Edmund, added: “He’s one of our youngest fundraisers and it’s great he wants to do it again next year. We were delighted to show him round and encourage his interest in The Mayhew animals.”

His mum, author Isabel Wolff, added an extra £25 to the money Edmund raised, taking the total to a very generous £150.

the mayhew _ spring 20156

News update

JuSTIN HAWkINS rAISES MONEY FOr THE MAYHEWA big thank you to Justin Hawkins, frontman of The Darkness, who recently auctioned some of his show-stopping stage clothes on eBay to raise money for The Mayhew.

Justin, known for his flamboyant outfits and catsuits, said: “I still love these outfits, but I’m not going to wear them again because my house is full of them.”

Amongst the clothes was a pair of custom-crafted red snakeskin effect flares and a black and white stage suit from the band’s live gigs during 2005/6.

Justin explained why bidders might be interested: “Your chance to look like a rock star at the next The Darkness gig. Also ideal for job interviews. If you want to upstage the bride, wear it to a wedding... Just wear it!”

A whopping 50% of the proceeds were donated to The Mayhew. Thanks Justin!

COlOrADO SHINES IN NOVEMbErLittle Colorado arrived at The Mayhew last year after his mum was brought in as part of our Trap, Neuter, Release project for feral cats. She gave birth to Colorado and his siblings that night but when the kittens started to fade and two unfortunately died, we decided to keep Colorado in our care to give him a better chance at life. As if that wasn’t enough of a dramatic start in life, he then won a place in the VN Times 2015 calendar competition and stars as November! Shortly afterwards Colorado was rehomed and is now living very happily with his new family. Look how much he’s grown!

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pAWS ‘N’ ClAWS ANNuAl bIkE ruNMotorcyclists from the Ace Café in London did their annual Paws ‘n’ Claws bike run to The Mayhew on 21st December. They brought bags full of treats, food and toys for the cats and dogs in residence, which was much appreciated by the animals still waiting to find their new homes over the festive period. A massive thank you to all the bikers who made the special trip from Stonebridge to The Home on that chilly December day!


THE MAYHEW ANIMAL HOME

VET CLINIC EXPANSION

8

We’ve run out of space!Help us expand our Clinic facilities so we can care for more animals and offer more training places!

Since the Mayhew Community Veterinary Clinic opened its doors at the end of 2006, we have helped thousands of animals with preventative health care, as well as providing comprehensive veterinary provision for those passing through our rescue and rehoming services.

WE ArE NOW burSTING AT THE SEAMS AND NEED MOrE SpACE. CAN YOu HElp uS ACHIEVE THIS? We are planning to extend our Vet Clinic facilities onsite this year and need to raise some funds to do it! Our target is to raise £500,000 which covers the building works and equipping of the new clinic areas, which will enable us to have:• 2 operating theatres, one to be a

teaching theatre;• A vet consultation room – space to

check over the hundreds of animals passing through our doors and assess their needs;

• More pre- and post-operative space for dogs and cats so we can increase the

number of cases we can deal with;• Expand our Community Animal Care

programmes including our Trap, Neuter, Release and Pick ‘n’ Snip projects and help more owners care for their pets at home

• Respond to the demand for low-cost neutering

• More space for low-cost clinics for vaccinations, microchipping etc.

• Stress-free separate areas for dogs and cats to ensure their well-being is not compromised

• More training places on offer for nurses, student vets and overseas vets looking to improve their skills for the good of animal welfare.

We are thrilled to have raised £227,251.00 so far but we hope you will help us raise the rest. We will keep you updated with our progress throughout the year as we are all excited about it here!

Thank you!

www.themayhew.org 9

Above: Milly with Senior Vet Nurse Mel

Above: Careful monitoring

To help us raise funds:Return the enclosed donation formCall 020 8206 5870Donate via our website www.themayhew.org/clinic-expansion

How we’ve grown over the last 8 years:• We’ve neutered 15,194 animals • And vaccinated 9,985! • The vet team has grown from 2 vets

and 3 nurses to 4 vets and 8 nurses.

Above: Preparing to anaesthetise


Michael Cinigilio – KennelsIt’s very rewarding to see the dogs go to their new homes and it’s great when an adopter brings their dog back to The Mayhew for a visit and you can see the difference a stable home makes.

Deb O’Connor – General all-rounderIt’s great working with like-minded people and my highlight is getting to spend time with the cats (especially watching the timid ones flourish).

Joan Dixon – ReceptionMy time working at The Home gives me great satisfaction but also a feeling of sadness at the plight of all the animals outside of our reach.

Anya Hastwell – EventsI really wanted to channel my enthusiasm for animal welfare into helping The Mayhew and being an Events Volunteer fits perfectly around my work.

Laressa Kelly – Outstanding ContributionI feel honoured to be able to support the fantastic work The Mayhew does in the community and I recommend it to anybody looking to give a gorgeous animal in need a second chance.

The Mayhew has more than 300 volunteers who work tirelessly to keep The Home running smoothly. Here are our Volunteer Award winners from 2014 – thank you for all your hard work!

Our volunteers

Flick Thorley - TheraPawsI feel proud representing The Mayhew and enjoy spreading dog love wherever we go with TheraPaws.

Lorea Hoye – MarcommsThe Mayhew’s initiatives are ground breaking and I love that they are non-judgmental in reaching out to all aspects of the community.

Kevin & Irene Barrett – Foster CarersWe have the rewarding opportunity to get to know lots of amazing dogs through fostering, all of which have ended up with great homes and happy lives.

Maria Bergendahl – CatteryThe best thing about volunteering is being able to make a difference to the cats while they’re waiting for their forever homes.

Parvin Faridian – Home VisitorMy passions are cats and animal charities and I love doing home visits.

Azmina & Pauline Gulamhusein – Fundraiser Achiever of the YearYou can read more about their amazing work at The Mayhew on page 12.

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Interested in volunteering? Visit: www.themayhew.org/volunteering

Above: Deb O’Connor

Above: Parvin Faridian

Above: Joan Dixon

Above: Laressa Kelly

Above: Lorea Hoye

Above: Michael Cinigilio

Above: Anya Hastwell

Above: Flick Thorley Above: Flick’s dogs

Above: Azmina & Pauline Gulamhusein

Above: Maria Bergendahl Above: Kevin & Irene Barrett


Many of you may have heard of Amazing Grace, the white Staffie found on a brent doorstep in September last year in a shocking condition – she was literally starving to death, blind in one eye and desperately weak.

Amazing Grace

She arrived emaciated, with protruding ribs and a swollen belly reminiscent of a famine victim. In fact, her stomach was so distended that The Mayhew’s vet team immediately drained off two litres of fluid. It was clear she had been left for a considerable time to soak in her own urine, as her legs were stained and marked and her coat was in a filthy state.

Tests soon revealed that Grace had an intestinal condition called lymphangiectasia, which meant she couldn’t absorb protein and suffered from terrible diarrhoea, despite medication. She was half the weight she should be and also had a grade 4 heart murmur and anaemia.

Caroline Yates, Chief Executive, said: “I have never seen such severe starvation and malnutrition in a dog in the UK before. It’s amazing she has any faith in human beings after what she’s been through.”

The Mayhew is committed to giving every animal a second chance at life and Grace was given round-the-clock care, love and attention. Despite her suffering, Grace had a very sweet nature and loved nothing more than a cuddle and to play with her toys. She was incredibly brave and strong throughout her ordeal and the many generous gifts and donations we received from Mayhew supporters were greatly appreciated and made a huge difference.

One of our supporters, Azmina, was immediately taken with Grace: “There was something special about her and a love of life shone

Left: Grace when she first arrived at The Mayhew


through those soulful deep brown eyes.” To raise money for Grace’s round-the-clock care at The Mayhew, Azmina and her mother Pauline knitted some little dog mascots in sparkly white wool and sold them on eBay for an amazing £82.98.

Realising how much love Grace’s story had inspired, Azmina was determined to help as much as possible. She auctioned a watercolour painting of Grace’s expressive face and beautiful eyes, which was donated to The Mayhew by an artist she knows well. “It is said that the eyes are the window to the soul and the artist intended the painting to be a celebration of Amazing Grace’s joyous spirit and personality,” Azmina explains. There was an extraordinary response and an immediate outpouring of generosity from Mayhew supporters: the painting received 44 bids and raised an outstanding £1,220!

During her time at The Mayhew Grace’s condition deteriorated and her diarrhoea remained chronic, which meant it was almost impossible for her to gain any weight. Her quality of life was seriously impaired and her prognosis looked unlikely to improve and, on the 11th November 2014, Grace’s struggle came to an end. In her final months she was loved, cherished, warm and comfortable and her story has spread across the world, invoking outpourings of love and generosity.

The money raised for Grace will now go on to help other sick and abandoned animals at The Mayhew. As Azmina puts it, “Amazing Grace was a very special dog and leaves behind a legacy of love.”

Grace is now at peace; no more pain, no more sadness, no more suffering. She remains in our hearts forever.

A big thank you to Azmina and Pauline Gulamhusein for their help writing this article, and to all who sent in gifts, donations and support for Grace. Azmina and Pauline were awarded the prestigious ‘Fundraiser Achiever of the Year’ Volunteer Award to recognise their hard work during 2014.

Above: The mascot and painting that Azmina and Pauline sold on eBay to raise funds

The Mayhew _ Spring 20151 4

Find me a homeHere are just some of the lovely cats and dogs patiently waiting at The Mayhew for their forever home. please help us to find their new families.

Lucky: 4 years old. Gender: MaleBreed: PomeranianLikes: Curling up on someone’s lapEssentials: I can’t live with other dogs

Gordon: 2 years old. Gender: MaleBreed: StaffyLikes: Company, playing with my toys and having my back scratched Essentials: I’m hard of hearing but I’m learning hand signals

Bay: 2 years old. Gender: FemaleBreed: German Shepherd and Greyhound crossbreedLikes: Snuggling and belly rubsEssentials: My new owners will need to take me to training classes and I’ll need to be the only pet in the home

Gladys: 7 years old. Gender: FemaleBreed: American Bulldog and English Bulldog crossbreedLikes: Going to the park and cuddlesEssentials: I can live with other dogs but no cats please!

Please pull

out and display on a

pin-board or in a window

where lots of people

will see me!

Hopefully, with your

help, our forever homes

will be found sooner!


Harvey & Layton: 7 & 9 years oldGender: MalesLikes: A gentle voice and a garden to potter in.Essentials: We’d suit a quiet adult-only home.

Annabella: 2 years old. Gender: FemaleLikes: To be a loyal friend.Essentials: I need an adult-only home with a garden and lots of home comforts.

Wanda: 5 years old. Gender: FemaleLikes: Showing my belly while I get cuddles.Essentials: I startle easily so I’d like a calm home environment.

Perry: 4 years old. Gender: MaleLikes: Having my fur brushedEssentials: I can’t live with other cats or dogs

Help us to rescue the countless cats and dogs who are missing homes: Text RESCUE to 70111 to give £3 a month*

*This is a subscription service. You will be charged

£3, plus one message at your standard network rate in the first month, and £3 a month thereafter with the option to skip donations if you wish. The Mayhew Animal Home will receive 100% of the donation. To unsubscribe, text STOP to 70111 or call 0203 282 7864.

To find out more about these animals and other Mayhew residents please visit:

Cats: www.themayhew.org/cats

Dogs: www.themayhew.org/dogs

Or telephone: 020 8962 8000


October saw National Dog Adoption Month in the uk and The Mayhew received lots of visitors keen to raise awareness of the many dogs in rescue centres looking for new homes.

Dog Adoption Month

Local Brent politician and former undefeated British boxer, Ibrahim Taguri, came out fighting for animal welfare when he visited The Mayhew in North West London. Ibrahim said: “I wish people were more responsible about just dumping their pets. I have read so much about the amazing work The Mayhew does in the local papers and I’m touched to actually witness it.”

Ibrahim met Askey, a 3 year old Chihuahua Terrier cross who was looking for a new home, and they got on like a house on fire. Ibrahim continued, “I’m going to do as much as possible to help these animals who have been abused, abandoned, or neglected. I loved my visit to The Mayhew, it’s certainly more humane than the world of politics.”

Lu Corfield, who plays twin sisters Freya and Lois Wilson on BBC1’s Doctors, also visited The Mayhew to highlight the number of rescue dogs who need a new home.

She cuddled a number of four-legged residents including Askey and 17-month-old Siberian Husky Amaruq.

Ms Corfield, the owner of a six-year-old Poodle cross called Norma, said: “There are a frightening amount of dogs needing to

be rehomed across the UK and, whilst our rescue centres and shelters are doing a wonderful job, we still need further funding and support. I fell in love with each and every one of the dogs I met; in fact I was very tempted to take them all home! They will make the perfect companion to the right owner; they just need to be given a chance.”

When legendary documentary maker Louis Theroux visited he immediately formed a bond with Grace, the staffie who arrived at The Mayhew after being found on a doorstep starving to death, desperately weak and blind in one eye.

While giving Grace a big cuddle Louis said: “We need places like The Mayhew Animal Home to help thousands of dogs like Grace who desperately need treatment,

Above: Lu Corfield meets Lucky


care and a loving home. So many dogs in the UK are being abused and abandoned which is why we need rescue centres but they are stretched to breaking point.

“That’s why I am delighted to highlight National Adoption Month for dogs who are not quite so lucky at finding a second chance home.” You can read more about Grace on page 12.

purDEY MEETS purDY! Joanna Lumley, who played a spy called Purdey in the 1970’s crimefighting show the New Avengers, rubbed noses with Purdy, a seven year old Dalmatian who found herself at The Mayhew with her sister Penny last year, following the break-up of their owners’ relationship. They enjoyed a lovely walk in the park on

If you are interested in adopting a dog please call 020 8962 8000 or visit www.themayhew.org/dogs

a crisp autumnal day in October. Joanna said: “Thousands of dogs in the UK are just thrown away – or lose their homes – when things get tough which is why we need rescue centres but they are stretched to breaking point. National Adoption Month is a reminder to help dogs who are not quite so lucky at finding a second home. As a passionate animal lover I would urge people to consider adopting a rescue dog which is hugely rewarding for all sides.”

Above: Joanna Lumley with Penny and Purdy Above: Louis Theroux met Grace


Q. What does obesity cause?Obesity is a serious condition that can lead to potentially fatal fatty liver disease, diabetes, non-allergenic skin conditions and urinary tract disorders in cats. For dogs it can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, joint problems, exercise intolerance, respiratory distress and diabetes. These problems cause your pet intense discomfort, pain, depression, lethargy and can even lead to death.

Q. What should I feed my pet?A balanced diet is important to ensure they receive the full range of nutrients.

Most pet foods that are available to buy provide the complete range of nutrients

Overfeeding and/or lack of exercise leads to obesity in our pets, which in turn can lead to severe health problems. The Mayhew’s Chief Vet, ursula Goetz MrCVS, GpCert (SAS) gives some top tips on how to keep your pet in shape and healthy.

Ask the expert

Below left: When Huggy Bear arrived at The Mayhew he weighed in at a massive 12kg.

Below right: Through a carefully controlled diet he is now a much healthier 6.6kg.


If you have a question for our team, please get in touch: [email protected] or 020 8206 5870For urgent enquiries, please contact your vet.

Download a copy of our cat and dog care leaflets at: www.themayhew.org/cat-care www.themayhew.org/dog-care

your pet needs so feeding them additional food is unnecessary and may even be harmful. Providing clean drinking water at all times is also essential.

Q. How often should I feed my pet?Both dogs and cats should receive two meals every day. However, if you give your cat dry food throughout the day as well, then you should deduct this from the recommended amount of wet food given as cats can be prone to overeating, especially when bored.

Q. What foods should I avoid?Cats: Never feed dog food to a cat as they have different nutritional needs. There is a common misconception that cats need milk but in actual fact it is not tolerated well by many cats and can often cause diarrhoea.

Dogs: Beware of certain human foods which are dangerous to them such as grapes, raw onions, raisins and chocolate.

Q. How can I treat my pet without overfeeding them?We often use treats as a way of rewarding our pets during training or for good behaviour, especially dogs. This can have a positive effect on behaviour but treats should be given sparingly and try to stick

to healthy ones if you can.

Q. What about exercise?Cats should have plenty of room to run around and outside access to a garden is desirable. Make sure you spend time playing with your cat every day and leave some interesting ‘puzzle’ toys to keep them busy when you are out.

Dogs need lots of daily exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. Long walks and off-lead exercise is essential every day – even if it’s cold and wet outside, your dog still needs exercise. Just think of the health benefits you’ll be getting at the same time!


And they lived happily ever after…

As I enter the cosy London home, I am greeted by a very bouncy and excitable Bunny – completely different to the first time I met her. When Bunny arrived at The Mayhew in October she was suffering from a painful skin condition

which caused her fur to fall out on her underside, from her neck right down to her toes. Our vet team quickly treated the condition and she was very soon on the road to recovery. It was only a matter of days after she went up for adoption that she was snapped up by a very special lady.

Sylvia Syms, a veteran actress who starred in Ice Cold in Alex, The Tamarind Seed and The Queen to name just a few, came to The Mayhew after her daughter Beattie spotted Bunny on The Mayhew website. Beattie (Edney, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps and starred in the likes of Highlander, In the Name of the Father and will shortly be seen in the new series of Poldark) was immediately struck by how much she looked like Snoopy, their old family Jack Russell.

Sylvia was looking for an intelligent, obedient, slightly older dog and Bunny ticked all the boxes. And even though Bunny will most likely be on some form of medication for her skin condition for Above: Bunny when she first arrived at The Mayhew.

The Mayhew’s Zoe visits bunny, the gorgeous Jack russell who recently featured in our Christmas appeal, to find out how she’s getting on in her new home.

www.themayhew.org 2 1

the rest of her life, this didn’t put Sylvia off one bit and she took her home at the end of November.

Now settled in her new home, Bunny (or ‘White Fang’ as Sylvia sometimes calls her, she tells me with a smile) is smart and mischievous, having adopted the role of protector. She loves a cuddle, chasing her ball and meeting other dogs in the park nearby. According to Sylvia, every home should have a dog; she loves the companionship, seeing Bunny’s friendly face at the door when she comes in, and taking her for nice long walks.

Beattie and her German Shepherd cross, Billie (also a former Mayhew resident), are frequent visitors, and Billie and Bunny get on like a house on fire. They chase each other round in circles quite happily while I drink tea with the two dog-loving actresses.

Both Sylvia and Beattie are strong advocates for The Mayhew. “The work you do is extraordinary,” exclaims Sylvia. “The love and care you give to animals in

need, some of which arrive in a horrible state, is just amazing.”

Beattie especially sings the praises of our foster carers, as her dog Billie was being fostered in a loving home when she adopted her. And most importantly, they both thoroughly support The Mayhew’s neutering initiatives and low-cost vet services to help all animals in need gain a better quality of life.

As I say goodbye Sylvia spots a chance to catch Bunny off-guard and give her the medication she needs for her skin condition. Bunny has become quite cunning at avoiding this daily ritual, apparently. While I am stroking Bunny goodbye, Sylvia quickly pops the pill in her mouth and gently holds it closed encouraging her to swallow it. It seems like success so Sylvia lets go - and out pops the pill from Bunny’s mouth. As they eye each other up, Bunny with a twinkle and Sylvia’s lips turning into a smile, I am sure of one thing: they seem like the perfect match to me.

Above: Beattie with Billie and Sylvia with Bunny.


The Mayhew’s work with the homeless

We have worked closely with Crisis for over 15 years, offering help and support to homeless people and their dogs during the festive period.

It can be an incredibly difficult time of year for a homeless person, and often their dog is their only friend so we ensure they are not separated from their dog whilst at the Crisis centre. We offer advice and assistance on caring for their dog while they receive help and support from the charity. The Mayhew team were

on hand to provide free general vet health checks, administer preventative treatments (flea/worm treatments) and microchips, and offer advice on neutering. We were able to help 3 dogs and 2 cats on the day and we gave out food, collars, tags and dog coats to help keep the animals healthy and warm during the winter time.

We work with a number of other homeless projects throughout the year, where we offer support and advice for all

The Mayhew was back supporting Crisis at Christmas again last year. On 29th December our vets, Animal Welfare Officers and volunteers were in Islington at one of the Crisis venues where homeless people can receive temporary shelter over the Christmas period.


Above: Another dog receives a health check

Above: Mayhew vet Susan doing a health check

Above: Dinner time!Above: One of our visitors gets cosy

Above: One of our visitors resting after a long day.

dog-owners. We visit each centre 5 times a year, where we also promote our Pet Refuge scheme for anyone who wishes to go into rehab and needs help caring for their dog.

You’ll find The Mayhew at the following projects across London:• The Margins Project• Thames Reach, Graham House• Ace of Clubs• St Mungo’s Broadway Homeless Hostel

& Drop in Centre


Your letters: adopted & loved

LucyDear Mayhew Animal Home,

We thought you would like to hear how Lucy is

settling in since we adopted her in November.

After a nervous few days of hiding under the bed

when we were about and exploring the flat when

we were asleep, Lucy very quickly began to relax,

enjoying regular fusses with loud purrs. She has claimed a couple of sleeping

places, one being a cushion in the lounge next to the window so she can see out

and the other a basket in the spare room, which has become her warm spot for

sleeping in.

Lucy has become a big part of our life and we love having her. Watching her

become more confident and seeing her personality come through is a real joy, she

looks very happy and content. We love our little Lucy very much and are so

pleased we are able to give her a new home with lots of love, patience and comfort.

Kind regards,

Richard & Anne

Calypso (formerly Blossom)Hi Mayhew team,

Calypso is truly amazing! She is the loveliest dog we could

imagine. She is calm, gentle and playful and doesn’t bark much

(yahooooo!). She is as strong as a bull and could happily pull us all

up and down the heath if we didn’t keep her ‘heeling’. She runs

as fast as a greyhound but has the stamina of a husky. Her fur

is super soft and she sleeps happily all through the night.

Seriously, she is pretty close to perfection. Many thanks for her!

Best, Ashley

We rehomed an amazing 113 dogs and 484 cats last year. They are busy enjoying life in their forever homes. Here’s an update from four ex-Mayhew residents…


SweetieDear all at the Mayhew,

As you may remember we adopted Sweetie from The

Mayhew last year. We are a very happy family together and

we wanted to send you a little update on Sweetie’s life with us.

She loves her (several) tennis balls, relaxing on the couch and

barking at the fireworks. Every time we take her for a walk she

melts everyone’s hearts and she’s a favourite in the

neighbourhood already. She is a very good and well behaved dog

and we are very lucky to have her.

Franca and Danny

To share your stories, please get in touch by writing to The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ or email [email protected]

MinstrelDear Mayhew,

Minstrel is a huge part of our family. Ever since he came

to live with us two years ago he has been massively

important and everything I do personally revolves around

Minstrel and his life with us. Life would be a whole lot different without him.

Sadly in April of this year Minstrel suffered a fracture to his tail (only he will

know what caused it) and after spending a week at our local vet, they concluded that

the damage to the bone inside Minstrel’s tail was too severe and the decision was

made to amputate so he could make a full recovery. It took around 4 months for

Minstrel’s fur to fully grow back to normal. Since the incident I’ve realised Minstrel

is even more precious and so wonderfully amazing than I thought possible!

Thank you Mayhew.

Ben Graham

To see more of Sweetie, check out this video of her in her new home: http://bit.ly/1sc3TOn


Training programmes at The Mayhewlooking for a career in veterinary medicine or animal care? Then your future could start at The Mayhew’s practical training centre.

WOrk bASED AWArD IN ANIMAl CArEThe Mayhew offers a Level 2 Work Based Award in Animal Care in conjunction with the College of Animal Welfare. The 14-month self-study course is a great basis for a career in animal care in which the student works voluntarily (unpaid) at The Mayhew for three days a week in order to gain practical experience for their qualification.Find out more: www.themayhew.org/education/work-based-award

VETErINArY NurSE TrAININGThe Mayhew is an Approved Training Practice for vet nurses and works with the College of Animal Welfare to offer practical placements. It provides a dynamic training opportunity for student nurses where they are able to learn their profession in a modern, well equipped clinic that provides full service veterinary care for the animals at The Mayhew as well as low cost preventative care services for the local community. Please note that we are currently only able to accept requests for a placement through The College of Animal Welfare.Find out more: www.themayhew.org/education/veterinary-nurse-training

VETErINArY STuDENT plACEMENTS (EMS)Veterinary students will learn the skills needed to practice vet medicine while at university, but it is on their EMS placements that they are able to practice these clinical skills and gain hands-on experience of animal handling. Students will also develop their understanding of practice economics and management, gain experience of medical and surgical treatments, and learn about the ethical and legal responsibilities of a veterinary surgeon.Find out more: www.themayhew.org/education/vet-student-placements

Above: Vet nurse Laura with Prince


Events round-upTINSEl & TAIlSHeld just before Christmas, our annual fundraiser raised an absolutely amazing £10,800! Guests were delighted with a sparkling wine reception, a delicious vegetarian buffet dinner and lashings of entertainment. Our celebrity friends Peter Egan, Bill Bailey, Sylvia Syms, Beattie Edney and Helen George (to name a few!) gave special readings and music was provided by the lovely Verity & Violet. Dogs were invited too of course and many rehomed Mayhew residents came along in their finery, greeting all the guests on the red carpet. There was

also a raffle and a luxury auction which raised a phenomenal amount. Thanks to everyone who came along and helped to make it a very special evening.

CHrISTMAS FAIr £6000The Mayhew opened its doors on the 30th November 2014 for the annual Christmas Fair. The Home was transformed into a magical Winter Wonderland with stalls, a raffle, children’s activities and mulled wine and mince pies for the grown-ups. The day was an outstanding success and raised a whopping £6,000 for our four-legged friends.

Above: Bill Bailey shows his support

Above: Helen George with her husband Oliver

Above: Mulled wine and mince pies

Above: Fairgoers drop presents into one of our resident cat’s Christmas stockings

Which is why you’ll want to have her spayed. Cats can be spayed from four months. This protects them from getting pregnant.

Book an appointment today! You may be able to get help with the cost of spaying.

You’ll naturally want to protect her

WorldSpayDayTUESDAY 24 FEBRUARY 2015www.themayhew.org/worldspayday

IN ASSOCIATION WITH:

Phot

o: iS

tock

.com

The Mayhew Animal Home is participating in World Spay Day on 24th February 2015. We provide low-cost services so book your appointment now:

Call 020 8962 8017

Email [email protected]

Visit www.themayhew.org/worldspayday

TheMayhew Animal Home

Documents

Mayhew Magazine Spring 2015