Tails | Spring 2018

Issue 1 I Spring 2018 I www.themayhew.org

In this issue...

Our 2018 goals Ask the expert: feline asthma

Are you a dog? It’s the Chinese Year of the Dog!

SPRING 2018

Front cover photo of Mavis by Conrad Norton.

Our vision

A society where animals are treated and cared for with respect.

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.

for dogs, cats and communities Editor: Claire Gratzke – claire@mayhewanimalhome.org Design: arc - www.arc-cs.com

Many thanks to our contributors and photographers: Adita & Adithio Noviello, Alice Hudson, Joe Moolenschot, Rowan Williams.

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

Contact us

@ info@mayhewanimalhome.org 020 8962 8000

Mayhew, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green,

London, NW10 6BJ www.themayhew.org Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter @themayhew Registered charity number: 1077588 VAT number: 820 4030 87

Company limited by guarantee number: 3837732

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New Year, new Tails!

Welcome to our newly rebranded edition of our Mayhew supporter magazine, now called ‘Tails’ to reflect the hundreds of animals and people we help each year. It features stories from our staff, volunteers, clients and of course from you, our supporters. We hope you like our new quarterly publication and would love to know what you think - so please get in touch with us (contact details bottom left).

In this issue we take a look back at 2017 and our goals for the year ahead (page 6). We also share Ivy’s amazing recovery story (page 20), which highlights the health issues common in brachycephalic pets; a much-debated topic presently.

We wish you a fantastic 2018 and look forward to sharing more success stories with you in the next edition of ‘Tails’.

Contents 18

04

Mayhew news

06

A look back at 2017

07

09

Fundraise for Month of May-hew

10

Our supporter promise

Cats & dogs

20

Happy Ivy after

22

New ways of giving in 2018

24

Our goals for 2018

Ask the expert: feline asthma

New Year, new you

Dog theft awareness

08

26

11

Paws off the Easter chocolate

12

28

Tinsel & Tails 2017

29

Are you a dog?

Mayhew’s Open Day

Mayhew’s work around

Your letters

14

the world

30

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News

SPRING 2018

Back on the road A

huge thank you to the hundreds of supporters who generously donated funds to go towards our much needed replacement animal ambulance, after our old one was stolen last July. Thanks to your support we were able to raise the funds required to replace the stolen vehicle. Mayhew’s CEO, Caroline Yates, said: “Our replacement vehicle is completely electric, making it greener and more efficient for us in London and we can now get back to rescuing and safely transporting more animals in need of our help”.

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TheraPaws brightens up Blue Monday

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n Blue Monday (15th January), said to be the most depressing day of the year, Mayhew decided to bring some cheer to a beauty company with visits from some of our adorable TheraPaws dogs. During the visit to the crueltyfree cosmetics brand, Smashbox, TheraPaws volunteers, Deborah with her dog, Noodle, Claire with her dog, Roobarb, and Jude with her dog, Alfie, spent time meeting employees in central London. The TheraPaws dogs are a part of Mayhew’s visiting animal programme, which recognises and promotes the mutual benefits of animals interacting with people, particularly older people with dementia, generating both comfort and stimulation.

Communications Manager of Smashbox, Nicola Thornton, said: “It was lovely to see the dogs spreading so much joy and happiness to the team at Smashbox on Blue Monday.”

I am not an impulse buy

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Crisis at Christmas

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n December, Mayhew vet, Dr Emma Robinson, and Animal Welfare Officers, AJ Ford and Tania Mazzoni, attended Crisis at Christmas. Mayhew has been supporting Crisis for many years during the Christmas period, when homeless people receive shelter and other services over the festive season and a dog crèche is also provided.

ur Christmas campaign “I am Not an Impulse Buy” helped to raise awareness of the worrying trend of pets being bought online via apps without consideration of the responsibilities needed to look after a pet. The campaign focused on Luna, who was abandoned after being bought online and ended up at Mayhew, but who, thanks to your support found a new home in time for Christmas. We also managed to raise just under £600 to help the animals in our care over the Christmas period.

Thank you!

Mayhew advises on the facilities provided for the dogs and helps train the Crisis volunteers designated to the dog section. All of the homeless people’s dogs were given a thorough health examination and flea and worming treatments.

They were also provided with food, treats and light-up safety collars to make them visible at night, waterproof jackets, coats and leads.

Mayhew has been working with the homeless and their dogs for over 17 years.

You can call the Fundraising Team if you have any questions about fundraising for us, we would love to hear from you. Telephone us on 020 8206 5870 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm) I 5

k c a b k A loo at 2017

SPRING 2018

rateful

so g 017 and we are 2 in r a ye l u rf e d ther won uch.

We had yet ano s to achieve so m u g in lp e h r fo rs to our supporte We rehomed 370 ca ts

We found forever ho mes for 92 dogs

We responded to 1,431 animal welfare cases Our vet team neutered 1,789 ani

mals

948 animals were microchipped

We reunited 80 lost dogs with their owners

We celebrated our 17th year working with the homeless and their pets in London

TheraPaws

made 1,06

7 visits

Our volunteers clocked an enormous 10,027 hours

Mayhew International neutered 13,175 cats inated against

vacc 14,262 dogs were dia and Georgia istan, In

rabies in Afghan

and dogs overseas

Mayhew Internationa l trained 65 overseas vets, students and as sistants

99,138 people have been reached by our Education programme in Ranchi, India

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Our goals for 2018

2018 is set to be an ev en bigger y find out ho ear here at w we’re pla Mayhew! R nning to ca vulnerable ead on to re for more pet owners animals an this year‌ d help more

and expand our Increase rehoming by 5% ster programmes to off-site adoption and fo ve a minimum stay ensure all our animals ha t in the shelter environmen are team so we t e v r u o d e Expan preventativ re o m e id v able to pro are veterinary c

Animal Welfare Continue our hin rogramme wit Educational P rage unity to encou our local comm d t ownership an responsible pe animals safety around

s on erseas vet v o t h ig e Train ining onal Vet Tra ti a rn te In r ou Programme

Develop our ve terinary trainin g packages and videos that can be used here in th e UK and overs eas

Increase the number of animal we lfare cases we take on, specifically through our Pick & Snip programme, Trap Neuter Release pro gramme for feral cats and Pet Refuge cases so we can help more vulnerable pet owners and the ir animals, thereby stopping the animals being given up into the shelter environment or abandoned Expand The substanc raPaws using ou ea r li reach mo buse charities ac nks with homeles r s and re vulner able and oss London so w e can socially is olated pe ople Expand our do g-catching and vaccinating team s in Afghanistan so we can increase our mass rabies vacc in ation programme in th e capital city, Kab ul

Register as an NGO in Georgia to further our work in this country and continue to raise standards of veterinary care, as well as addressing welfare issues for dogs and cats there

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New Year, new you!

SPRING 2018

Want to start 2018 with a new fitness regime?

Then why not challenge yourself to participate in one of our sporting events this year and you could help our homeless cats and dogs at the same time! There are lots of events to take part in, from marathons to bungee jumping.

Take your pick and get fundraising…

Abseil for the Animals

Date: 23rd June 2018 Location: ArcelorMittal Orbit, Olympic Park Registration fee: £30 Fundraising minimum: £250

British 10k

Date: 15th July Location: London Registration fee: £25 Fundraising minimum: £200

As part of the Virgin Festival of Sport, The British 10k is one of the most prestigious races in London.

Whether you’re aiming to beat a personal best or racing for the first time, this is the perfect fast and flat route for all abilities.

Royal Parks Half Marathon

None of these events take your fancy? Not to worry, simply visit www.runforcharity.com to find your perfect challenge event for 2018!

For more information and a FREE fundraising pack, contact our Events Team on 020 8206 5872 or email events@ mayhewanimalhome.org 8 I

Date: 14th October Location: London Registration fee: £30 Fundraising minimum: £300 (50% to be raised by July 2018)

Royal Parks Half Marathon is a spectacular race through central London – the first of its kind. The stunning 13.1 mile route takes in the capital’s worldfamous landmarks on closed roads, and four of London’s eight Royal Parks – Hyde Park, The Green Park, St James’s Park and Kensington Gardens. This is a must do, at least once!

Take on the UK’s highest free fall abseil all in the name of animals! Standing at 262ft, this challenge is not for the faint-hearted. Places are limited so book now!

Cycle London to Lille

Date: 22-24th May (2 days cycling, 1 day free time) Distance: 175 miles Registration fee: £99 Fundraising minimum: £1,100 What’s included? Accommodation, travel by ferry and Eurostar, all meals during cycling days, water, refreshments, guides, mechanics and medical support.

Fundraise for Month of May-hew Month of May-hew is back again this year and we need YOU to help us fundraise!

M

ay is all about Mayhew and we are holding a month of intensive fundraising to help us continue our vital, life-saving work to help abandoned, neglected and vulnerable cats and dogs, as well as owners in need, both here and overseas. You can be as creative as you like in how you fundraise for us; from holding a cake sale to running a marathon to hosting a dinner party… it’s completely up to you! Read on to see some of our top Month of May-hew fundraising ideas.

Why not host a Tea Pawty for your friends and family? Mayhew’s Cattery team hosted a Tea Pawty in the garden.

Hold a special event and donate the proceeds. Last year, Animal Flow Yoga held a special yoga event in aid of Month of May-hew.

To find out more, request your FREE fundraising pack (including a collection box) and register your event, visit www.themayhew.org/ monthofmayhew

Bit of a whizz in the kitchen? Take inspiration from Mayhew’s CEO, Caroline, and hold a delicious cake sale! (pictured top left).

Our Animal Welfare Officer, Paul, agreed to wax his legs last May… his team mates donated cash to each take a turn at doing the waxing!

More ideas: Bring your dog to work day Sponsored silence

Take part in a challenge event such as a marathon, cycle or even a bungee jump (see opposite page)

Animal-themed dress up day at school or work Car boot sale

Get sponsored to give up something you love for the month of May Organise a pub quiz

Or why not simply have a collection box in school/work

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WINTER 2018

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Our supporter

e wanted to let you know that the laws surrounding Data Protection are changing this year. As of May 25th 2018 all companies and charities will have to follow new clearer guidelines regarding the protection of your privacy and data.

As part of our dedication to comply with the new rules we have updated our Privacy Policy and introduced a new Supporter Promise to cover four main commitments to our supporters.

These are to:

• Adhere to the highest fundraising standards, guidance and legislation relating to our fundraising activities;

• Look after your data and protect your privacy; • Keep you informed as to how we are spending your money;

• Encourage feedback and act on it.

promise

Both our Privacy Policy and our new Supporter Promise can be found on our website here www.themayhew.org/privacy and www.themayhew.org/supporterpromise

This gives us the perfect opportunity to ask you how you would like to hear from us in future. Please tick the following boxes, tear off and send back to us in the Freepost envelope provided. Alternatively, you can email or call us to let us know what you would like to hear about and how you would like us to keep in touch: dataprotection@mayhewanimalhome.org 020 8206 5870.

If you are happy with the way in which we are contacting you and with the information you are receiving then you do not have to fill this in and we shall continue to contact you.

Tell us what you think Name: Address:

I’d like to hear about: Mayhew news and our magazine (which contains fundraising) Our appeals Fundraising information

Please keep me informed by: Post Email @: Phone: SMS:

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Events (including fundraising events) E-newsletter Or alternatively: Please remove me from your database as I do not wish to be contacted by Mayhew

Paws off the Easter chocolate!

Chocolate might be a delicious treat for us humans, but for our fourlegged friends it’s a whole different story, often with a devastating ending.

W “

Chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which can be poisonous to dogs and cats even in small amounts.

”

ith Easter falling on 1st April this year, we want to make sure pet owners aren’t fooled by seemingly sweet treats and are aware of the toxic effects chocolate can have on cats and dogs, ensuring they can spend this happy time together without any worries.

Over this chocolate-y period, lots of treats like chocolate eggs and Easter bunnies can be found around the home which could seem tempting to pets, so we urge owners to keep their chocolate stash out of reach from greedy paws!

Our vet team warns that chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which can be poisonous to dogs and cats even in small amounts.

For example one bar of dark chocolate (100gr) can be seriously dangerous for a 10kg dog. There are chocolate toxicity calculators for dogs online which you can use to see if your dog is at risk.

Dogs and other animals digest theobromine less effectively than humans, and it can cause poisoning if they eat a deadly amount. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more harmful it will be due to higher amounts of theobromine in it.

If, like many owners, you want to give your best friend a little treat on special occasions, then instead of sharing your Easter egg with them, make sure you give them something pet-friendly and safe such as a pet treat or toy.

Treatment may be needed if your dog or cat eats any chocolate so please contact your vet as soon as possible if you suspect they have gotten into your stash. To help your vet work out whether your pet has eaten a toxic dose and what treatment it may need, it is helpful to let them know how much chocolate has been eaten, what type of chocolate it was (empty wrappers can help identify this) and when your pet ate the chocolate.

Symptoms to look out for if you suspect your dog or cat has eaten chocolate: Vomiting (may include blood) Diarrhoea

Restlessness and hyperactivity Rapid breathing

Muscle tension, incoordination Increased heart rate Seizures

If you have any concerns, please contact your vet as soon as possible.

The toxic dose for cats is even lower than for dogs. However, cats are less prone to eating chocolate since they are unable to taste sweetness, but you should still err on the side of caution and ensure that it is kept well hidden from felines too.

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WINTER 2018

Are you a

dog?

Chinese New Year fell on 16th February and marked the start of the Year of the Dog! Read on to find out if you’re a dog and what it means…

I

n Chinese astrology, each year is related to a zodiac animal according to the 12-year-cycle and 2018 is the Year of the Dog. If you were born in a Year of the Dog that makes you a dog!

A dog’s personality

Dogs are loyal and honest, amiable and kind, cautious and prudent. They can be objective, offer good advice and are a constructive and efficient thinker with a well-defined purpose. Due to their loyalty, dogs will do anything for the person who is most important to them but they often find it difficult to convey their thoughts to others. They are born with a good nature and look for a quiet life surrounded by family. They are always ready to help others and usually enjoy good health, are happy most of the time and are physically active.

Lucky things for dogs Lucky numbers:

3

4

and numbers containing them (e.g. 34, 49)

Lucky colours:

red, green, purple

Lucky flowers:

rose, cymbidium orchids

Lucky directions:

east, south and northeast

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9

“ ”

2018 will be a year of challenges for people with the Chinese zodiac sign of the Dog

Other Dog years include:

1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 Careers

Dogs are easy-going and kind and therefore suit professions where they can help others. If you’re a dog perhaps your true calling could be one of these: police officer, scientist, counsellor, interior designer, professor, politician, priest, nurse, clerk or judge.

Beware! 2018 could be an unlucky year for dogs

You might think that a dog would have good fortune during the year of their birth sign, but according to Chinese astrology, they could actually have a spot of bad luck. So if you’re a dog then you should be more careful about all aspects of your life during 2018 and it would be a good time to eat healthily, do more exercise and get rid of those bad habits!

2006 2018 2030

“

Famous people born in a dog year include: Herbert Hoover, Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Prince William, Shirley McLaine, Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson, Marcel Quote required Quote required Quote required Proust, Socrates Quote required Quote and Li Yuan required Quote(first required emperor of the Tang Quote required Quote required Quote required Dynasty 618-907)

“ ” ”

Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required Quote required

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SPRING 2018

Mayhew’s work around the world Mayhew International celebrated many achievements in our overseas projects last year and we are excited to share with you what’s been happening and our plans for 2018. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates from Mayhew International in the upcoming issues of Tails.

Afghanistan

S

o much happened in Afghanistan in 2017 and we would like to thank you all for your support of this life-changing project.

We kick-started 2017 with Mayhew’s groundbreaking agreement with Kabul Municipality to stop the dog culling programme, which used strychnine poison to kill the dogs. This horribly cruel method of controlling the dog population had been happening for many years in the city without any effect.

Conscious that there would be many Municipal dog-catchers potentially out of work, Mayhew Afghanistan selected a group of 12 and retrained and rehabilitated them, turning them from dogkillers to humane dog-catchers. They are now also ambassadors for the mass canine-rabies vaccination programme which is currently in full swing. The Team Leader even adopted one of the street dogs!

The team are vaccinating owned dogs as well as free-roaming dogs

Making great progress

The mass vaccination programme started at the beginning of August, with our vet-vaccinator, surveyor and the team of dog-catchers out early every morning at 5am to catch, vaccinate and track the dogs by each district in Kabul.

In five months the dream team have vaccinated 3,178 dogs against rabies and covered more than five districts in Kabul. We are so proud of them!

It has also been fascinating to see the reaction of the general public to the programme which has been overwhelmingly positive, with many dog-owners coming forward for the free rabies vaccination too.

However, this is a long-term strategy to make Kabul a rabies-free city, with a plan in place for three years. In 2018, we intend to build a second team of catchers and vaccinators so we can target more areas.

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The Mayhew Afghanistan dog catching team

Vet-Vaccinator Suleiman Safi administers the vaccine to a litter of puppies

There will also be a new dog population survey to see the changes from the one carried out by Dr. Mohammadzai DVM and his team in 2015, and a neutering programme to reduce the freeroaming dog population.

Mayhew Afghanistan is very grateful for all the support so far, both financial and in-kind, but we need to raise further funds in 2018. If you would like to help, please get in touch: 020 8206 5870 / www.themayhew.org/donate

Georgia

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n 2017, Mayhew International grew its involvement in Georgia. The Mayhew team visited Tbilisi twice providing training, advice and support to Tbilisi Municipal Shelter, vets from other municipalities in Georgia and from Ukraine and to our good friends at Dog Organisation Georgia (DOG) for whom we fund a Trap, Vaccinate, Neuter, Return (TVNR) programme in the city.

We were proud of the Tbilisi Municipal Shelter vets who started becoming the trainers themselves and, under the supervision of Mayhew’s Head Vet, demonstrated safe and secure neutering techniques for vets working in the other Georgian towns of Gori, Kutaisi and Rustavi. We were also pleased to see the improvements they had made to the clinic facilities at the shelter despite limited resources.

In 2018 Mayhew plans to register as an NGO in Georgia to further our work and continue to raise standards of veterinary care, as well as addressing welfare issues for dogs and cats. We commissioned two surveys at the end of 2017, carried out by the Caucasus Research Resource Centers, to find out the attitude of Tbilisi residents towards having neutered and vaccinated dogs living on the streets in their communities and to gauge the opinions of commercial vets in Tbilisi towards neutering, vaccinations and population and disease control. We are presently collating the results which will form part of the basis for our next steps in Georgia.

Dr Ana at New Vet Clinic Mayhew Chief Vet Dr Ursula Goetz meets some of the shelter residents

During the years we have worked in Georgia, Mayhew has seen Dr Ana Metskvarvishvili develop from a keen vet student to a qualified vet wanting to work in the welfare sector. Dr Ana came to our facilities in London for two weeks’ training in 2017 and she worked with us during our two visits to Tbilisi during the year. We were delighted to set up an agreement with the New Vet Clinic in Tbilisi, run by Dr Dato, who also works at the Municipal Shelter, who was keen to do some spay/neuter charitable work at this clinic. We now sponsor Dr Ana to work with Dr Dato and with the added capacity of their clinic, our TVNR programme with DOG was able to expand, almost doubling the number of dogs neutered and vaccinated in 2017.

Dr Ursula and Dr Ana Dr Ursula checking on a patient before surgery

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SPRING 2018

Mayhew International continued Russia

M

ayhew International was delighted to continue working with three Moscowbased animal welfare charities in 2017: Ekologia Cheloveka, Fond Dingo and PetFund.

All provide free and low-cost neutering services for homeless animals, vulnerable pet owners and shelter dogs and cats and were able to help hundreds of animals in 2017. With Fond Dingo we piloted a project working with monastic communities, who frequently have large cat colonies on site and feed free-roaming animals in their areas. Traditionally, they have not been supportive of spay and neuter initiatives, but often have influence with the local residents. So far the team has been able to convince five monastic communities in and around the Moscow region to neuter their cats and there has been some movement in their understanding of the benefits of humane animal population control.

Mayhew International carried out two vet training trips to Russia in 2017. In September, the team travelled to Michurinsk in central Russia and held a masterclass in cat neutering for seven Russian vets. We were assisted by three of our Mayhew veterinary alumni, who are all involved in animal welfare projects with organisations in Russia: Dr Natalya Potapochkina, Dr Valentina Grigorova and Dr Elena Bokareva. These three vets work to Mayhew standards and it is very satisfying to see them passing on their knowledge to others. Vets in more provincial areas such as Michurinsk work in challenging circumstances with very limited access to good drugs and surgical supplies, so we were happy to donate some good quality suture material and a pressure cooker for sterilising instruments.

Above and below left: Two of the animals we’ve treated in Moscow

Dr Ursula Goetz explaining a cat spay before surgery

In November, vet training in dog reproductive surgery was held at YUNA in Podolsk, with the team once again assisted by doctors Natalya and Valentina with seven Russian vets attending the course.

With the three organisations we work with in Russia presently, the vets helping have all received Mayhew training and building on this core group of vets carrying out surgery to a high standard and committed to animal welfare is vital.

International Vet Training Programme

After a hiatus of 18 months whilst our Community Veterinary Clinic was expanded with the Jeanne Marchig Veterinary Suite & Training Wing, we were delighted to reactivate our International Vet Training Programme and we welcomed eight vets to Mayhew in 2017. With support from International Cat Care, we had vets from Portugal, Spain and Lithuania who were keen to learn about flank spaying in cats as well as our colleagues from Georgia and Russia who assist with the spay/neuter projects we fund in those countries.

We are planning for a further eight vets to come to our Community Veterinary Clinic for training here in London in 2018.

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Mayhew Chief Vet Dr Ursula Goetz with Dr Ioannis Fouskis after completing his training

India

M

ayhew International has been working with our friends at HOPE & Animal Trust in Ranchi for more than 10 years now, a milestone we are very proud to have reached. In 2017, the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme worked at full tilt, neutering 10,683 street dogs and vaccinating them all against rabies. Although they picked up six rabid dogs during the year, there were, thankfully, no human caninemediated rabies cases reported in Ranchi City last year.

The vitally important Education Programme that we fund reached out to almost 100,000 children and adults in Ranchi explaining to them about the rabies virus, dog-bite prevention and street dog behaviour. Mayhew International plans to continue this parallel approach in 2018.

HOPE’s experienced dog-catching team also travelled to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2017 to help train the local staff there too.

One of the HOPE team in Ranchi

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SPRING 2018

Cats & dogs

lovely Here are just some of the iting at wa tly ien pat cats and dogs me. ho r eve for ir the for Mayhew

Maggie

Terrier mixed br eed, Female, 5 years and 3 months Likes: Sweet lit tle Maggie is a shy and gentle girl who is nervou s in new situations and fearful of strang ers, however once she gets to kn ow you she builds very strong bonds and is extremely aff ectionate. Mag gie’s eyesight is poor but she copes well regardless.

Maggie

Essentials: Mag gie is looking fo ra calm and quiet home.

Ghost

Akita, Male, 2 ye ars and 4 months Likes: Ghost is a friendly and active dog who gets along well with ever yone he meets and enjoys snuggling up an d getting lots of attentio n.

Essentials: He is a strong dog who is looking for a co nfident owner with expe rience with large bree ds.

ghost 18 I

Gomez

d 8 months Male, 7 years an who an adorable boy Likes: Gomez is your on sit ore than to loves nothing m ddle. lap and have a cu en ez’ left ear has be Essentials: Gom ill st is He infections. removed due to is d an le op pe me new nervous with so ve lo of ts lo s ed ne who a sensitive soul C! TL d an

Gomez

Alfie

Male, 5 y ears Likes: A lfie is very playful an compan d likes y and will follow yo to room u from ro just to be om with you smart ca .H t who lov es playin e’s a enrichm g with fo ent toys. od Essentia ls: Alfie is a sensitiv would do e soul an best in a d quiet ho me.

Alfie Fluffy Fluffy

nths rs and 3 mo g Male, 3 yea od and bein loves his fo y ff lu F s: e Lik el special. made to fe who needs is a shy boy e H : ls a e ti n Esse and when h r trust first u d. yo n ie in a fr g to best be your new does he will

To find out more about these animals and other Mayhew residents waiting for a forever home, please visit us at www.themayhew.org/ado pt or telephone: 020 8962 8000

You can help us rescue more dogs and cats and find them loving homes by making a donation at www.themayhew.org/donate

You could also pull out this page and display it where lots

of people will see it!

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SPRING 2018

Happy Ivy after Ivy was abandoned at just 15 months old but thanks to Mayhew, she is now living life to the full with her new forever family. Read on to find out what she’s been up to‌

Ivy on foster.

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Find out more about brachycephalic pets at www.themayhew. org/brachycephalic

Ivy and Teddy at the beach.

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ou may remember Ivy from our Christmas appeal, the gorgeous English Bulldog who arrived at Mayhew after being found on the streets, abandoned and alone. Her eyes were sore and inflamed and our vet team discovered she was suffering from a painful condition called Cherry Eye, which is very common in brachycephalic dogs such as Bulldogs.

She was also suffering from distichiasis, where the eyelashes grow from the wrong part of the eyelid, painfully rubbing on the eyeball. As you can imagine, poor Ivy was in constant pain and very uncomfortable. Our vets performed surgery to correct both conditions and after a few weeks of recovery, she was soon back on her feet and her loving, sweet nature started to show through.

Once she was back to full health and had been neutered and vaccinated, she was put up for adoption on Mayhew’s website. And that was where she was spotted by Kerry and her family after they began looking for a rescue Bulldog they could adopt.

“We decided we wanted to get a rescue Bulldog after we lost our old girl last summer at the age of 12,” says Kerry. “I rang Mayhew to enquire about Ivy but I was informed that she had already been reserved. However, for some reason I kept checking the website… something about Ivy kept me looking back again and again. And then all of a sudden she was available for adoption again so I immediately booked an appointment to see her.”

Kerry and her daughter made the 3-hour journey to Mayhew to meet Ivy and they both fell in love straight away! The next day Kerry’s husband, Wayne, came to meet her and he couldn’t help but fall in love either. Ivy was immediately at ease with the whole family and it was a perfect match. Just a few days later, they were able to take Ivy to her new forever home in Essex where she has settled in perfectly.

Ivy has been enjoying walks in the woods where she can chase rabbits and deer and she especially loves to be with her new big (little) brother, Teddy the Shih Tzu. Teddy wasn’t too sure about Ivy at first, but now they are the best of friends and are always running around and playing together.

“

Ivy is such a gorgeous girl who likes nothing better than cuddles and home comforts! She loves eating and adores any kind of meat on top of her dry food and she’s absolutely perfect on the lead. She always comes when we call and she sits for a treat for being a good girl. We really can’t thank Mayhew enough. She has fitted into our life so well and we love her to bits. She’s part of the family now and we couldn’t imagine life without her.

”

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SPRING 2018

New ways of giving in 2018!

We couldn’t continue our work without the generous support of our donors.

This year is the perfect time to start fundraising for us as it’s never been so easy or rewarding. We have introduced new ways to support our work including a new Membership scheme and we’ve introduced Gifts in Celebration.

Read on to find out all the different ways you can help us!

Membership

B

ecome a member today for only £20 a year, and make a positive difference to the lives of hundreds of homeless cats and dogs in the UK and abroad.

Now businesses can get involved too with our Business Membership!

Sign your business up to show your support for Mayhew or host a fundraising event at work to fund an annual membership.

Gold Membership: £250 + VAT includes: • Exclusive dog or cat Business Membership window sticker for your office/shop.

• Supporter Badge for your website • Our quarterly magazine to keep you up-to-date with Mayhew’s events and news about our work • Mention on our website in the Business Membership tab • Acknowledgement in our annual report

Platinum Membership: £600 + VAT includes all of the above plus: • A mention in our supporter magazine • Naming one of our animals and promoting this on social media • A TheraPaws visit More information on our Business Memberships can be found here www.themayhew. org/businessmembership

You will also gain peace of mind with our pet registration service, which guarantees that Mayhew will take care of rehoming your pet should they outlive you (one animal per membership).

We receive no government funding and are totally dependent on the generosity of people like you who enable us to provide shelter and care for homeless cats and dogs, as well as supporting our animal welfare programmes and community work to tackle the current companion animal crisis.

With your membership, you will receive:

• Your very own Mayhew membership card • Pet registration form • Our quarterly magazine to keep you up-to-date with Mayhew’s events and news about our work • A card holder to safely store your membership card and travel card • A copy of our annual report at the end of the financial year • An exclusive Mayhew pin badge

Visit our website for more information www.themayhew.org/donate.

22 I

Business Membership

Proud to support

for dogs, cats and communities

www.themayhew.org

Business Membership window sticker, not actual size

Sponsorship

S

ponsoring a cat cabin or a dog kennel is a great way to help provide Mayhew cats and dogs with a safe, comfortable and stress-free environment to live in until they find their permanent home.

From as little as £5 a month, you can sponsor a Mayhew animal room for a whole year. Sponsoring a Mayhew animal room also makes the perfect gift for your animal-loving friends.

As a sponsor your name will be added to a special plaque displayed at Mayhew, and during your sponsorship period you will receive two updates telling you about a current animal resident.

With your sponsorship you will also receive:

• Personalised certificate • A profile of a current resident • Our quarterly magazine to keep you up-to-date with Mayhew’s events and news about our work • ‘A day in the life’ animal leaflet and poster • Travel card holder • Mayhew pen • Cuddly toy • Cotton tote bag

Visit our website www.themayhew.org /donate to see more information on all of the ways you can support us this year.

Animal room sponsorship pack, dog example

Gifts in Celebration

S of gifts.

hare the love and help homeless animals. Celebrate your special occasion by requesting donations instead

Whether it is a birthday, wedding anniversary or the arrival of a newborn, we have a range of ideas in which you can invite family and friends to make a donation to help you celebrate and to support our work. Here are just some of the things you could do: • Create a Celebration Fundraising Page • Collections at your event • Virtual gifts • Sponsor an animal room

Gifts in Memoriam

G

iving a gift in memory is a wonderful way to honour or remember a loved one or a dear pet. It is a lasting and meaningful tribute to ensure their legacy will live on and your gift will help many animals in need.

There are many ways in which you can make a gift in memory from sponsoring an animal cabin to creating an online tribute page or organising collections at a funeral.

Visit our website for more information www.themayhew.org/donate

Visit our website for more information www.themayhew.org/donate

The fundraising team would love to hear from you if you have any ideas, suggestions and to answer any questions you may have about raising money for Mayhew. Please call us on 020 8206 5870 (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm) I 23

SPRING 2018

Ask the expert: feline asthma Did you know cats could get asthma? Well, they can. Some asthmatic kitties, like rescue cat Alma, are even trained to use an inhaler. Mayhew vet, Emma Robinson (MRCVS), explains feline asthma, including what causes the condition and which symptoms to look out for.

“ �

She was such a fighter, we really wanted to give her the best chance that we possibly could, to get her better and into a loving forever home.

Emma, Mayhew vet.

24 I

E

verybody knows a fellow human being living with asthma. Yet it may surprise you to know cats can get it, too. Also known as allergic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, or chronic airway disease, feline asthma is very similar to asthma in people, although rarer amongst the kitty population. Cats with feline asthma experience persistent and/ or recurring inflammation of the small airways within their lungs. The inflammation is caused by overreaction to a stimulus, which could be an allergen like pollen or an irritant such as tobacco smoke, although it’s often impossible to pinpoint the trigger. What’s certain is inflammation of the airways causes them to narrow, making breathing more difficult, something only made worse by increased mucus production caused by the inflammation. Some cats experience further narrowing of the airways caused by the small muscles around those airways contracting.

Symptoms

The most obvious symptom in an asthmatic cat is persistent bouts of coughing. If your cat has feline asthma, you may also notice a change in breathing, especially around the same time as the coughing episodes. You’ll likely see their chest rising and falling more rapidly and it may be obvious your cat is struggling for breath. Other signs to look out for include uneven or laboured breathing, noisy breathing, and/or wheezing. If your cat displays any of these symptoms, book an appointment with your vet. They will likely recommend your cat has an X-ray and may even undergo a procedure called a bronchial lavage (airway wash), where cells are collected from the airways for analysis.

Sometimes a tiny camera is put down their throat to examine the cat’s airways in what’s known as a bronchoscopy. These procedures help to identify asthma, as well as ruling out other potential diagnoses, such as an infectious disease or cancer.

Treating asthmatic cats

Whilst identifying irritants and allergens and eliminating them can ease symptoms of feline asthma, in most cases it is impossible to do so, either because the triggering stimuli cannot be identified, or cannot be avoided. Symptomatic treatment with anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilator drugs is then required. The former targets the inflammation of the airways, while the latter help relax the muscles surrounding the airways. Both types of medication can be administered in different ways – in tablet or liquid form, by injection or by inhalation. Inhalation is the preferred method of administering drugs for asthmatic cats, as it means the medication is delivered directly to the lungs where it is needed.

Although it may sound unlikely, getting a cat to use an inhaler isn’t impossible, due to special “spacer” devices. Metered dose inhalers, which look exactly like human ones, are fitted to one end of the spacer chamber, whilst a face mask at the other end covers kitty’s mouth and nose. Perhaps surprisingly, most cats can be trained to use the device without too much fuss. A good thing, as the inhaler may be required at least once a day to keep symptoms in check.

Preventing feline asthma

Cats of any age or breed may develop asthma, although the condition is most reported amongst cats aged between six and nine years old, and in Siamese cats and related breeds. So, to some extent at least, there’s a hereditary component.

This means feline asthma may be impossible to prevent in some cats. Despite this, cat owners should remember it’s always best for their furry friend to live in an environment where there are as few irritants in the air as possible. Cleaning products, fragrances, cigarette smoke - all of these put molecules in the air which can potentially cause irritation. Never smoke indoors or around your cat and avoid using sprays around them.

Alice Hudson, of Harlesden, adopted asthmatic cat, Alma, from Mayhew in 2017. Here, she explains how Alma uses an inhaler with ease.

“

I’d never met a cat with asthma before. In fact, like many pet owners and members of the general public, I didn’t even know a cat could get asthma, let alone use an inhaler like a pro.

Staff at Mayhew explained Alma, who is as purry as she is pretty, had scarring on her lungs, the legacy of a particularly nasty bout of cat flu she was suffering from when rescued. Alma very nearly died. Thankfully, Mayhew intervened just in time to save her life.

After recovering from the flu, Alma developed breathing difficulties, leading to her feline asthma being diagnosed. When she first came to live with me, she took an inhaler twice a day.

Helpful staff at Mayhew were able to show me how to administer it, and I was surprised at how well trained and co-operative she was.

Nowadays, two-year-old Alma only needs her “puffer” on occasion, after a bout of coughing. It’s impossible for me to tell what provokes her to cough, but her asthma does appear to be seasonal.

Alma may be asthmatic, but that doesn’t stop her running around like a mad thing – chasing the cat laser light is among her favourite activities. My little princess leads a perfectly healthy, normal life... and if all that purring is anything to go by, she is one content kitty.

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SPRING 2018

Dog

theft awareness March the 14th marks Dog Theft Awareness Day, and in 2017 DogLost.co.uk reported that incidences of dog theft in the UK had risen by 24% since 2014. Sadly, it’s a highly profitable crime and one that is devastating to the owner affected.

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W

hile there needs to be more done to stop dogs being stolen in the first place, our Animal Welfare Officers have given their advice on how to minimise the risk of your dog being stolen and keep them safe.

Neutering

One of the main reasons dogs are stolen is for breeding. Neutering your dog not only offers health and behavioural benefits, but it can also help prevent the theft of your dog for breeding reasons.

Microchipping

A microchip, which is a legal requirement for dog owners, gives you the very best chance of being reunited with your pet should they become lost or stolen. Wherever they may end up in the country, a chip will always carry your details so your beloved pet can be tracked back to you. It is also a legal requirement to make sure you keep this information updated should you move home.

In 2017 Dog theft had risen by

24%

ID tags

An ID tag is also a legal requirement and dog owners must ensure their dog wears one while in a public place, with the name and address of its family. A telephone number is optional, but a good idea as it makes it easier for someone to reach you if they have found your dog. However, our Welfare Officers advise against putting your dog’s own name on the tag, as a thief who knows your dog’s name can call them by their name and gain your dog’s trust.

Stay with them

Never leave your dog tied up alone outside a shop, or alone in your car, even if you are only going to be a few minutes. This can cause a dog distress (as well as overheating in the car), but it is also an invitation for an opportunist to strike when a dog is in a vulnerable position on its own. We advise leaving your dog in the safety of your home if you are going somewhere that isn’t dog-friendly.

However, please remember that dogs are also easily stolen from back gardens, so never leave your dog outside on its own.

since 2014.

Source: DogsLost.co.uk

Training

We know dogs love going for walks and running off lead in a safe place can give them so much joy, but it sadly also gives thieves the opportunity to steal unsuspecting dogs. It is a great benefit to be able to call your dog away from danger and for them to come straight to you when called, so make sure you invest in the time to train your dog’s recall skills.

Dogs often get lost by a friend of the family who is walking or exercising the dog on behalf of the owner, so make sure the dog is always kept on the lead when they are out and about with someone other than the owner.

Avoid putting your dog’s name on their tag as thieves can use it to gain your dog’s trust

We offer a low-cost neutering service at our Community Vet Clinic which includes free microchipping. We also offer FREE neutering for bull breed dogs and cats on the C4 scheme.

Call us on 020 8962 8017 or email vetclinic@ mayhewanimalhome.org for more information and to book an appointment.

Alternatively, visit www.themayhew.org/animalwelfare/vet-clinic to find out more.

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SPRING 2018

Tinsel & Tails 2017

T

here was an abundance of glamour and gorgeous dogs at Mayhew’s Tinsel & Tails exclusive black-tie fundraising evening at The Grand Connaught Rooms in London last December.

Our dog-friendly extravaganza, proudly sponsored by Pets Pyjamas and Barkers For Dogs, saw a host of celebrity supporters take to the red carpet to raise vital funds of nearly £30,000 to help continue Mayhew’s work in the UK and overseas.

“It was our first time at Tinsel & Tails this year and what a fabulous, festive evening myself & Plum Pudding had! It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many like-minded people, all in attendance to help raise awareness and much needed funds to support Mayhew’s amazing work. There was even a little gift for Plum Pudding on the table. We’ll definitely be back next time!” Lisa Garner and Plum Pudding (pictured).

Thank you to everyone who attended!

28 I

Mayhew’s

Open Day

T

his year we will be hosting our annual Open Day on Sunday 13th May 2018, offering an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our Home and giving you the chance to meet our wonderful staff, volunteers and animals!

In the heart of North West London, our fabulous street party will bring together an eclectic mix of stalls, activities and games. There will be fun for the whole family including meeting our TheraPaws Teams and saying hello to our cats still waiting for new homes in our cattery.

Guests will also have the chance to take a look around our Vet Clinic and speak with our Vets and Vet Nurses, who will be on hand to show work and equipment demonstrations.

Last year we managed to raise £10,000 to help neglected animals in our care and with your support we can raise even more this year.

Throughout the day, entertainment will be provided with music and plenty of garden games. It’s a great way to kick off the summer and we hope to see you there!

See you there on

13th May 2018!

For more information please visit www.themayhew.org/ get-involved or email our Events Team at events@ mayhewanimalhome.org I 29

SPRING 2018

Your letters We love to hear about how our ex-Mayhew animals are doing in their new homes, it’s so rewarding to see them happy and loving life! Here are a few of our favourite updates we’ve received over the last few months.

Lillie

Bentley (formerly Tootsie)

Hi to all at Mayhew, d at a wonderful weeken We have all just had was ley nt Be d an h nemout the seaside in Bour ve ha o with our friends wh so good. We stayed w no is lled Artie and he a young Lurcher ca too mate. It didn’t take st be Bentley’s new ey Th r. he ot an e cept on long for them to ac ey th , ds be d an ys to their were soon sharing nt illia br all had lots of puppy played and we . lks wa t beach and fores on the journey to Bentley was so good ed to we have now decid Bournemouth that ing go is He e. nc Fra ak to go on a ten day bre d all an ere th n rde ga r to absolutely love ou our we used to walk with the wonderful walks and Rolo.

Labradors, Frankie at happy, relaxed and Bentley seems very home with us now. all, Best wishes to you ley nt Be & Lin, Ron

Dear Lisa,

Lillie is settling in well and has made herself right at home, it’s as if she’s been here forever. She’s getting on really well with my other dog, Digby, and they spent two hours exploring the garden together yesterday, helping me get it ready for the winter.

Lillie has met many of the local dogs and their owners and is fine with the dogs, joining in with their games and running with them, both big and small.

Have a good day!

Tabitha

To share your updates with us, please get in touch by writing to Mayhew, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ or email support@mayhewanimalhome.org

30 I

Luna&Cosma (previously Looby Lou&Dilly) Hello!

Luna and Cosma are doing marvellously.

By day three at home with me they had ventured into the garden and now spend a lot of time outside exploring and playing together. They are much less timid and while Luna is happy to cuddle up, Cosma is still wary of being stroked. This doesn’t, however, prevent her clambering over me for a treat! They have long given up the litter tray, and now sleep at night rather than charging up and down the corridor playing at 3am.

In short, they are a delight!

Sam

Megane&Capri

Hi Matthew, Megane and Cap ri have been with us for three weeks no w and they have settled in really well. Th ey had their first outing to the Vet yest erday evening w here they were registered , weighed and ha d a general check-up and th ey were very we ll behaved.

They have now joined the Vet’s ‘youth club’ and are on track for all vacc inations, boosters and ch eck-ups.

We’d like to exte nd a very big th ank you to Mayhew for crea ting a great foun dation for them after a diffi cult start in a m echanic’s garage. We are all pleased to ha ve found each other. We are looking forw ard to many happy da ys together and you can be confident that all your efforts have ensured that Megane an d Capri will be ve ry content with us.

Andreas and D

éirdre

MillMill Lane Lane Veterinary Veterinary Surgery Surgery

Mill Lane Veterinary Surgery

Advanced Advanced medical medical care for your pets pets Advanced medical care forcare yourfor petsyour

Proud toProud support Mayhew Animal Home Proud to support toThe support The The Mayhew Mayhew Animal Animal Home Ho Joshua Rusnak BVSc CertSAS MRCVS

JoshuaJoshua RusnakRusnak BVSc CertSAS BVSc CertSAS MRCVS MRCVS

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

www.mill-lane-vet.com www.mill-lane-vet.com 020 7794 1777

020 020 77947794 17771777

for dogs, cats and communities

Mayhew Community Vet Clinic

Low-cost neutering Microchipping (included FREE with neutering) Vaccinations Flea & worming treatment Nurse clinics

Mayhew Community Vet Clinic, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ For more information and to book an appointment call 020 8962 8017 or email vetclinic@mayhewanimalhome.org

I 31

for dogs, cats and communities

for dogs, cats and communities

Come and join Mayhew's street party!

13th May 2018 I 11am-4pm

Admission adults: ÂŁ3 child/concessions: ÂŁ2 Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London, NW10 6BJ

www.themayhew.org/openday 020 8206 5872 Registered Charity No. 1077588