Mayhew International Newsletter Spring 2017

Mayhew International Issue 22

working to alleviate the suffering of animals abroad

We take a look back at Mayhew International’s achievements in 2016 and see what 2017 has in store for animal welfare overseas.

In this Spring issue you can read all about what we’ve been up to in Afghanistan, Moscow, Georgia and India, and see how your donations helped Animal Nepal rebuild their Dog Isolation Block following the earthquake in April 2015.

Spring 2017

Afghanistan At the end of August 2016 The Mayhew was officially set up as an established Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Afghanistan.

The Mayhew has been working in Afghanistan since 2001. For more than 15 years, Dr. Abdul Jalil Mohammadzai DVM (Dr. Mo) has provided extensive veterinary training for vets and vet students at Kabul University Veterinary Faculty and also for the Afghan Stray Animal League and Nowzad since we gave our assistance to Pen Farthing back in 2006.

Over the last year, Dr. Mo has been busy meeting with key government officials and agencies to discuss The Mayhew’s animal welfare strategy for Afghanistan. In 2015, Mayhew International carried out the first dog population survey in Kabul producing scientifically analysed results to develop proposals for the implementation of a mass rabies vaccination programme and dog population control and management initiative for Kabul’s street dogs. The resulting plans have a clear primary objective to eliminate rabies in the city and make Kabul more secure for both people and animals alike.

The current programme of dog culling through poisoning in Kabul is carried out in the belief that it will help prevent the spread of rabies in dogs and control free-roaming dog population numbers.

Mayhew International does not support these inhumane methods of controlling dog populations and the rabies virus and 2

Mayhew International _ Spring 2017

believes that the mass culling of animals, simply to remove them from the streets, is cruel, ineffective and not sustainable. A mass rabies vaccination programme for dogs, however, is a proven, sustainable and cost-effective way to control rabies.

Caroline Yates, CEO, says: “This is a huge achievement for us. Establishing a Mayhew NGO in Afghanistan gives us a solid foundation from which to launch, manage and expand our proposed dog population management and rabies prevention programmes.”

Moscow In August last year our Chief Executive Caroline Yates and Head Vet Dr. Ursula Goetz were in Moscow to touch base with the projects we support and fund, and to provide a second intensive vet training workshop.

Above: Dr. Mo with the NGO certificate.

News just in: After years of hard work, we’re absolutely delighted to inform our supporters that we signed a landmark agreement with Kabul City authorities to halt dog culling.

On 22nd January 2017 The Mayhew’s Afghanistan Project Manager, Dr.Mo, signed the agreement which means that Kabul Municipality will halt the current practice of poisoning freeroaming dogs in Kabul City and The Mayhew can lead the way for rabies vaccination and prevention, animal welfare initiatives and education in Kabul and Afghanistan.

We’re thrilled that Kabul Municipality is moving towards a sustainable rabies control programme that will eliminate rabies and save both people’s and dogs lives.

The Mayhew’s Chief Vet Dr. Ursula Goetz visited Moscow to train vets and student vets from several charitable groups. The training covered not only safe and secure surgery techniques, but also pre and post-operative care and welfare of the animals, a vital component of any Trap, Neuter and Return programme.

Mayhew International has built up relations with three local charities Fond Dingo, Ekologia Cheloveka and PetFund and helps to fund their spay and neuter projects in Moscow and the outlying regions. The training took place at Ekologia Cheloveka’s facilities where a small sterilisation clinic is being built and equipped. Ursula was joined by Russian vet Natasha Potapochkina, who was one of our first students on our International Vet Training Programme at The Mayhew’s Vet Clinic in London and is now a very competent neutering surgeon in Moscow; Valentina www.themayhew.org

Above: Caroline Yates & Ursula Goetz with the Russian vet trainees

Grigorievna, who trained with us last year and deliveres the neutering programme with PetFund which we sponsor; Lena Pershina from Ekologia Cheloveka , plus two vets from Petrazavodsk, sponsored by Big Hearts Foundation. It was very pleasing to see the progress that vets Valentina and Lena 3

India In 2016 Mayhew International sponsored HOPE & Animal Trust ABC & Rabies vaccination programme and the work of an Education Officer to visit and educate local communities.

Above: Vet training in process.

Above: One of the patients receiving TLC.

Mayhew International has been working with HOPE & Animal Trust in Ranchi since 2006. We have seen the organisation grow and the impact of the animal welfare programmes delivered there are beginning to bear fruit. Since 2008 Mayhew International has funded an ABC & Rabies vaccination programme for HOPE, and in more recent years incorporated an Education Officer to go out and about in the local schools and communities to spread the word about compassion towards animals, safe interaction with the community dogs, rabies prevention and the benefits of neutering. In the last 12 months, the vet team there have neutered and provided rabies vaccinations to an incredible

10,969 dogs bringing the total since the start to 50,195! Recent surveys have shown that more than 70% of the dogs on the streets can be identified as having been neutered and vaccinated and there have been only 4 recorded cases of canine-mediated rabies in humans in Ranchi City in the last two years. In 2016 the Education programme reached out to 88,074 children and community groups. For the coming year we will continue with the ABC programme and spread this message about rabies prevention, creating a safer environment for humans and dogs alike. We will also be welcoming one to two Indian vets to The Mayhew in August 2017 for training.

Above: The ABC programme in action.

Above: Our Education Officer spreading the message of rabies prevention.

Above: We help to fund spay and neuter projects in Moscow.

had made from the first training in 2015 and very satisfying seeing Natasha Potapochkina deliver some of the cat surgery training for the others – putting into practice all the skills she had learnt at The Mayhew to help other Russian vets.

We plan to carry out further field training 4

Mayhew International _ Spring 2017

in Moscow in 2017 and welcome a couple of Russian vets to our London facilities to further develop their skills so that they can, on their return, pass them on to other Russian vets committed to addressing animal welfare issues in their own country.

www.themayhew.org

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Georgia

Bear cub update

Mayhew International has been working with the Tbilisi authorities for three years. The city has faced an enormous challenge to control and contain the free-roaming dog populations there, not least developing an infrastructure to deal with the issue and encouraging local residents to get on-side with a more long-term vision.

In 2016 we were pleased to see some real improvements at Tbilisi Municipal shelter based on our recommendations and the limited resources available.

Heating has been extended into the kennel areas, and significant changes had been made to the Clinic facilities on-site, with hot water available, post-operative recovery cages installed and redeployment of veterinary staff to increase the numbers of operations carried out.

Following three successive years of training from The Mayhew team, the Municipal shelter vet team have become competent in the neutering of dogs and have developed a sense of pride in their work. The focus now in 2017 is raising the standards of pre and post-operative care, further development of the Clinic and looking at cat welfare.

Our relationship with the only University in Georgia to offer a Veterinary Science degree remains close and we hope to work with the University in 2017 to develop and deliver an elective course in dog and cat medicine and surgery which is lacking in the present curriculum.

For the second year in 2016 Mayhew International funded the Dog Organisation Georgia (DOG) team Trap, Vaccinate, Neuter, Return (TVNR) programme.

During the year 189 dogs were caught, neutered, vaccinated against rabies and other canine diseases and re-released under the watchful eye of DOG monitors. Many of the DOG monitors are local Georgians who have got involved with the project which is a great development and we will be continuing with this programme in 2017.

Above: Georgian pup ear-tagged, neutered and vaccinated.

Above: Recovery cages are now installed for dogs post operation.

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Mayhew International _ Spring 2017

We cannot forget that in 2016 we were able to save the lives of three bear cubs that had been caught up in the terrible floods in Tbilisi in June 2015. We raised over £6750 which went towards their care in Georgia and at their new sanctuary home. Many of you have followed their story and we are delighted to see them living the life they should at the Arcturos sanctuary in northern Greece.

Above: Louiza and Patrick enjoying their new home.

Nepal The Isolation block funded via our 2015 earthquake appeal for Animal Nepal has now been completed.

Thanks to Mayhew International supporters’ generous donations, the new Isolation Unit for Animal Nepal funded by the balance of our earthquake appeal has now been completed.

Due to the earthquake, the building suffered severe structural damage with the worst hit area being the dog Isolation Unit, leaving the team without any place to hold dogs that could be

potentially carrying infectious diseases.

We launched an appeal and thanks to the funds raised by generous Mayhew International supporters we were able to help them get up and running again.

Initial funds were used to purchase a solar–powered electricity system and the new Isolation Block is now complete at their shelter and clinic in Lalitpur.

Above: One of the many dogs benefiting from the new Isolation Unit.

Above: The new Isolation Unit complete with solar-powered electricity.

www.themayhew.org

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Your support really does make a difference

£10 could help a street dog.

Thanks to you, Mayhew International had a great year in 2016.

Here’s what you helped us to achieve…

• We neutered 13,806 dogs • 936 cats were neutered • We vaccinated 12,976 dogs against rabies • We trained 99 vets and students • Our Education Officer in Ranchi, India reached and educated 88,074 children and adults in the community

£25 could help us stem the

You can help us continue this vital work of saving lives Text MINT17 £10 (or however much you would like to donate) to 70070 to make a one off donation.

Visit www.themayhew.org/donate or call 020 8206 5870. Please tell us that your donation is for Mayhew International when donating online.

The Mayhew Animal Home, Trenmar Gardens, Kensal Green, London NW10 6BJ www.themayhew.org Join us on Facebook: mayhewinternational Twitter: @TheMayhew Registered Charity No 1077588 Mayhew International is part of The Mayhew Animal Home.

Preventing the spread of disease makes a huge difference to the quality of life of both animal and human populations.

Mayhew International funds vaccination programmes to protect against infectious diseases, including rabies.

tide of unwanted animals that are left to survive on the streets.

Neutering is the most humane way of addressing the problem of free-roaming dog and cat populations around the world.

Mayhew International works with welfare organisations, university veterinary faculties and local authorities to help fund and provide free and low-cost preventative veterinary services.

£250 could train a vet. Mayhew International works with veterinary students and professionals in developing countries, sharing The Mayhew’s key veterinary knowledge and experiences of The Mayhew here in London and empowering them to make a change for good in their own countries.