Tails | Spring 2022

Issue 16 | Spring 2022 | themayhew.org

The power of a gift in your will Mayhew Afghanistan: saving dogs’ lives in Kabul

Behind the scenes in our cattery |1

Welcome to your new look Tails newsletter Packed with stories about the difference your support has made...

You might have noticed something different about this new issue of Tails – it’s smaller than usual. Less of a Great Dane and more of a terrier!

At Mayhew we love sharing our stories, ensuring supporters like you see the impact of your kind donations. But we’re always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint, cut waste and put as many resources as we can towards helping as many animals as possible. So, we’ve trimmed the size of Tails, while still making sure it is packed with great stories for you to enjoy.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the love we have for animals. This love is in the heart of everyone who makes Mayhew what it is, from the staff and volunteers to kind people like you whose support make our work possible.

I’m immensely grateful for your support of Mayhew. Our wonderful supporters have enabled us to weather some turbulent times and keep caring for animals who needed us.

We’re taking that same spirit with us into the future, and we know that, with your help, we’ll be able to change – and save – many more little lives.

Howard Bridges Interim Chief Executive

Thanks to @Pooch&Pineapple and Francesca Palmacci for front cover photography

What Mayhew achieved in 2021 55

dogs happily rehomed 2|

270

cats found loving new families

1,099 10,678 17,005 animals neutered in clinic

dogs neutered in Afghanistan & Georgia

dogs vaccinated in Afghanistan & Georgia

“She’s truly the third member of our family” After a long wait, Janey has been happily rehomed

Some of you may have followed the story of Janey, the friendly cat who was proving hard to rehome. We’re delighted to report that she’s found a forever home…with her foster family!

Janey’s foster carers had been caring for her for longer than usual, due to her medical issues and the resulting lack of adoption interest. As time went on, they realised that they could offer her that long term stable home that she needed and of course had already fallen in love with her.

They enquired and applied to adopt her permanently – to their delight, their application was successful.

Her adopter, Katherine, says, “We fell in love with Janey’s sweet personality, and we’ve loved seeing her settle in and grow more comfortable with us. She is truly the third member of our family. We already can’t imagine life without her!”

“He brought so much joy to so many people” In his short time with his adopters, Chocy gave – and received – a lot of love

In last year’s Christmas appeal we shared the story of a dog named Chocy. It is with great sadness that we need to tell you that this lovely dog fell ill and passed away in December, shortly after spending a wonderful Christmas with his new adopter.

Even though they were only together for a short time, Chocy’s adopter says that this sweet dog made a big impact on their household. “Chocy brought so much joy to so many people – to me, my girls, my mum and other friends and family. It was a wonderful five months with him. I feel so privileged I was able to spend this time with him and have the opportunity to show him love and make him happy.”

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What we do

Kayleigh Kilcommons – Head of Cattery

56 cabins and never a dull moment! Our Head of Cattery describes the range of vital work your support makes possible…

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Intake

Sometimes when we arrive in the morning, we find an animal has been left outside our door.

So we’ll take them in.

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Behavioural work

Some of the cats in our care need help adjusting to being held, stroked, or transported in a carrier.

Evaluation

It’s important for us to examine new arrivals for possible health issues, so our Veterinary team can give them treatment.

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Kayleigh in her element

Feeding

The cats love this bit! Not only do we feed them several times a day, but we check that they are eating well, going to the toilet, etc.

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Cleaning

The busiest part of the day. Cats can be quite messy, so it’s important for us to disinfect their living space regularly so it’s nice and comfortable for them.

Socialising

Interacting with each cat is a great way to keep them happy, as well as allowing us to keep an eye out for any possible issues they may be having.

Mayhew Afghanistan: saving dogs’ lives in Kabul With your kind support we’re carrying out vital work with animals around the world

2021 was a challenging year in Kabul, with Covid-19 restrictions and then a change in government in August, which led to the temporary suspension of our mass rabies vaccination and dog population management programmes. In September, the new authorities asked us to resume our operations and with their written permission to operate our vehicles in the city and follow up on residents’ concerns, our programmes gradually got back on track.

Our Country Director, Dr Mo, returned to Kabul in November, which was a massive boost to our staff on the ground. From early December, having welcomed some new team members, we were almost back to full capacity, helping to improve the lives of the free-roaming dogs in Kabul and protecting both dogs and people from the deadly disease of rabies.

We had a target of neutering 10 000 dogs in 2021 and despite the severe disruptions, by the end of the year, we’d neutered 9,468 dogs and vaccinated 14,530 dogs against rabies. In addition, there have been no recorded cases of rabies in dogs since April 2021 and no recorded deaths from rabies in humans for a year in the city.

Thank you for your generosity and thanks also to Brigitte Bardot Foundation, Dogs Trust Worldwide and Edgard Cooper Foundation for their support which enables us to continue our vital work delivering our services to help the dogs and people of Kabul.

Read more about our work overseas at: themayhew.org/international

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Leave a legacy of love and care The power of a gift to Mayhew in your will

More and more of our supporters are finding that a gift to Mayhew in their will is a wonderful way to ensure that their compassion for animals lives on.

With a gift in your will, you could help us carry on doing this lifesaving work year after year, caring for vulnerable dogs and cats across our communities both in the UK and overseas.

Did you know around 60% of our income comes from Gifts in Wills?

There are so many ways that Gifts in Wills make a huge difference. For example, one of our supporters left a gift that helped to pay for a new roof on our cattery. This keeps our cats in comfort and ensures that we have the facilities to house sick, injured and abandoned cats. It also helps keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

But the truth is that a gift of any size has an impact. Once you’ve made sure that your nearest and dearest are taken care of, it’s very straightforward to set aside any sum, or a percentage of your estate, to help Mayhew build a firm foundation and save more cats and dogs in the years ahead.

If you’d like to find out more about the difference you could make with a gift in your will, please email our dedicated Legacies department at legacies@mayhewanimalhome.org and a friendly member of our team will answer any questions you may have.

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You can also learn more and download our handy Gifts in Wills guide online at themayhew.org/legacy-guide.

Why I’ve decided to include a gift to Mayhew in my will

- Anne, Mayhew supporter

I have loved animals all my life and have always wanted to make sure they are cared for properly. One of my earliest memories is taking our cat Peter to the vets when I was a little girl. I’ll never forget how gentle the vet was and how he made sure Peter had all the care he needed.

Now that I have retired, I want to make sure that other animals get that same love and attention. That’s why I am supporting the work of Mayhew with a gift in my will. They do so much for animals and I know that by helping them in this way that my love for animals will live on.

Millie’s marathon

One dedicated young Mayhew supporter – 21-year-old Millie – explains why she ran the London Marathon to help raise funds for animals I’m a huge animal lover, so when I did the Great North Run in 2019, I chose to raise money for Mayhew. I was still living at home and sadly our dog Missy had just passed away. I wanted to fundraise in her memory, as well as for my family cat, Rusty.

I chose to run for Mayhew because I love the work they do with dogs and cats in the UK, but also because they work internationally and within communities to change people’s attitudes, which has a long-term impact.

I raised just over £500 back in 2019. When I saw that Mayhew had spaces available for the 2020 London Marathon, I knew I wanted a bigger challenge and to fundraise again.

This was my first marathon. It was a real mental and physical challenge for me. I’d never run that far in my life and I’m quite proud I managed to do it. The best thing for me was the people – the crowd, and even other runners, cheering me on and helping me keep on going.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported me and helped me raise over £1,000 for Mayhew!

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Ask Mayhew...

Mayhew’s animal experts share some of their top pet care tips Beware of grass seeds!

As we head into spring, it’s important to be aware of the danger of grass seeds, especially for dogs. These little seeds can become caught in dogs’ fur as they run through long grass, then work their way through the skin, causing infection. Check your dog after walks and keep an eye out for warning signs including limping and licking paws.

We’re not quite there yet, but when things start hotting up, it’s good to know how to look after your pet. On our website we have plenty of important tips to keep your animals cool, comfortable and hydrated when the temperature starts to rise.

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Easter safety

Easter should be fun for all the family, so make sure you watch out for hidden dangers to pets. Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs and cats, so watch out for dropped treats or eggs not found during the egg hunt. Raisins are tasty in hot cross buns, but can also be very harmful to dogs and cats alike. Lastly, if someone gives you daffodils, keep them on a high shelf – the lycorine they contain can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in pets.

Find more tips online about your pet’s health and wellbeing at:

advice.themayhew.org

Printed in partnership with Woodland Trust’s Carbon Neutral Scheme

Summer First Aid