Mayhew International

Mayhew International works to promote companion animal welfare and the humane management of homeless cats and dogs through a network of community animal care initiatives. Our work with vets interested in this area of animal welfare has a special significance for international development, benefiting communities in developing countries, many of whom rely on their animals for support.

• We advocate neutering as the most humane method of dealing with the overpopulation of companion animals.

• We offer information and advice on the setting up and running of sterilisation programmes.

• We collaborate with other welfare organisations and university veterinary faculties to provide low-cost veterinary services for local communities.

• We work with governments and local authorities in an advisory capacity to improve companion animal welfare conditions under their jurisdiction.

• We offer training for overseas veterinary personnel and animal welfare organisations. 

• Our work stretches from neighbouring European countries to places as far afield as Russia, Afghanistan, India and Peru. 

Russia

The city of Moscow has an estimated population of 30,000 stray dogs and a more elusive population of stray cats. Historically, the city government had attempted to control the stray population with a "catch and kill" regime and stray dogs are the main targets due to their high visibility and social welfare concerns over disease (rabies) and safety (dog attacks). A citywide sterilisation programme for stray dogs was introduced seven years ago, in part due to the efforts of The Mayhew Animal Home. Mayhew International continues to work with the Moscow City authorities on a consultative basis to find a more effective method of implementing their stray animal management programme.

Mayhew International in Moscow

Mayhew International has become increasingly aware of the large number of apartment shelters in Moscow that are in need of assistance, particularly with regards to veterinary care. In response, we currently offer a vaccination and spay & neuter programme for dogs and cats in the care of private apartment shelters. We also hope to promote the programme as a model for the City authorities. Click here to find out more about Mayhew International's Moscow Community Sterilisation Project.

Our Russian network - Moscow Animals

Mayhew International has developed strong working relationships with animal welfare groups in Moscow. In 2001 we provided veterinary training and a gas anaesthesia machine for the International Fund for Animal Welfare's (IFAW) mobile clinic project, "TESS", in Moscow. We continue to support their sterilisation programme by offering training for their Russian vets and shelter workers. Their newest vet, Tatiana Kryakhova, attended the Mayhew International Veterinary Training Programme in April 2008. In addition, we offer advice and fundraising support to Moscow Animals, a group of expats and locals with an interest in helping Moscow's homeless animals. Moscow Animals supports a number of private shelters and operates a rescue & rehoming programme through their website. Mayhew International works to ensure that all the dogs and cats in the private shelters supported by Moscow Animals are vaccinated and neutered before they are adopted. Click here to visit Moscow Animals.

Afghanistan

Mayhew International's aid work in Afghanistan started in late 2001 when worldwide media increasingly highlighted the suffering of people and animals under the Taliban regime. Thanks to the personal efforts of one of our Trustees, James Hogan, and family connections of Mayhew vet Dr Abdul Mohammadzai, who is from Kabul, The Mayhew was among the first international organisations to respond to the situation on the ground. Initially, we provided food for the starving animals in Kabul Zoo and assisted with the reconstruction and education programme until a hand-over to international zoological societies was possible.

Kabul Clinic

In 2002, we decided to build a clinic for the Veterinary Science Faculty of Kabul University. Veterinary facilities were virtually non-existent after decades of war and much veterinary knowledge had also been lost. A clinic would provide students with a practical training facility and also essential veterinary care for the sick and injured animals of the general population. Working in collaboration with The Dutch Committee, another international NGO providing veterinary services in Afghanistan, the clinic was finally opened in 2005. >>Please click here to read more >>

Kabul Animal Shelter

In 2004 an American journalist started a small animal shelter in Kabul to help the stray dogs and cats that are visible everywhere in the Afghan capital. The shelter is staffed and operated entirely by Afghans and is mainly an adoption centre, working to promote the concept of dogs and cats as companion animals. Since it began, the shelter has helped many animals as well as people, in particular military personnel from the US and UK, who have befriended or rescued stray animals while serving in Afghanistan.

Nowzad Dogs

In 2006-7 Mayhew International teamed up with a small group of Royal Marines to rescue homeless dogs in Helmand province. The Royal Marines from 42 Commando arrived in the town of Nowzad in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, in late 2006. As part of the International Security Assistance Force working to bring peace and stability to the country, the Marines were there to keep the peace, assist the local police and protect the town from the Taliban. Soon after they arrived, the Marines found that the local animals needed their protection too. The story of the Nowzad Dogs tells the tale of the incredible international rescue effort mounted by the Royal Marines in Afghanistan and Mayhew International from the UK. >>Please click here to read more.>>

Romania Bihor County

The Foundation for the Protection of Community Dogs, FPCC, was started by British businessman, Robert Smith, who was moved by the plight of street dogs in Romania where he worked. FPCC today runs a number of small shelters throughout Romania; in addition to being animal sanctuaries, the shelters have education programmes for schools and sterilisation programme for the community. In 2003 FPCC began working in the city of Oradea in Bihor county, northwest Romania. By the end of 2006 FPCC had sterilised over 4000 dogs. However, although the sterilisation project was a success in Oradea, dog lovers from nearby towns began dumping their street dogs in Oradea because they knew the dogs would be cared for there. (Traditionally in Romania, the municipality controls the stray dog population by poisoning or with a catch-and-kill scheme.) As a result, in 2007 FPCC decided to expand its sterilisation project to all of Bihor county. Mayhew International supports FPCC's Bihor county sterilisation project. Last year we donated dog catching poles, recovery cages and suture materials to the project. We also offered them the use of our large Mayhew animal ambulance as a post-operative recovery unit from April to August. Through our training programmes, we have trained three vets in sterilisation techniques and a project manager for their education and campaign programme. Click here to read more about our Training Programmes.

Galati

Dr Ileana Gheorghita was the first participant of The Mayhew International Veterinary Training Programme in 2006. In 2007 Dr Gheorghita began offering free spay & neuter and veterinary care for stray dogs and cats in and around her hometown Galati in eastern Romania. She works with a US-based charity, Romania Animal Rescue, that fundraises to pay for the cost of the operations. Dr Gheorghita also offers internships for veterinary students at her clinic and additional veterinary training whenever possible for vets working with other animal welfare charities in Romania. In 2007 the free spay & neuter programme was featured on Galati television and in local newspapers, resulting in thousands of animals being brought to Dr Gheorghita for sterilisation. Dr Gheorghita sterilised 1334 dogs and cats last year and another 134 animals in January 2008.

Peru

The Asociación Humanitaria "San Francisco de Asis" is working to improve animal and community welfare in the rural villages of northern Peru. Due to the high level of poverty and lack of education by animal owners, there is a high degree of neglect (both intentional and unintentional) being imposed on domestic animals. Companion animals, many of which run free in the towns and villages, are usually not neutered due to the high cost of veterinary care and the logistics of transportation to facilities, as well as lack of awareness on the part of the owners. The Asociación attempts to address these issues through many community initiatives including: . Education programmes in various rural communities and towns throughout northern Peru directed at teachers and children; . Providing Mobile Veterinarian Clinics to small rural town and villages; . Running an Animal Rehabilitation Centre for homeless/abandoned animals. Mayhew International first met the President of the Asociación, Ms Rosemary Gordon, in 2005 at the Humane Society Expo. In 2006 Ms Gordon recommended one of her volunteer vets, Dr Victor Diaz, for The Mayhew International Veterinary Training Programme. To read about Dr Diaz's training at The Mayhew in June 2006, please click here. As a young graduate with limited surgical experience, Dr Diaz acquired a solid foundation of general veterinary skills, and sterilisation techniques in particular, during his time at The Mayhew. After returning to Peru, he further honed his skills working with a visiting vet from Australia who volunteers at the Asociación Humanitaria one month every year. In support of the Asociación Humanitaria "San Francisco de Asis", Mayhew International will provide training for another vet, Dr Jierson Mendoza.

Dr Mendoza is a full-time professor on the Veterinary Science Faculty of the National University of Piura; in his spare time he also volunteers at the Asociación Humanitaria. This is an exciting opportunity for Mayhew International as Dr Mendoza specialises in small animal surgery and his experience at The Mayhew will have the potential to influence both the veterinary skills and the concept of animal welfare in the next generation of vets in Peru. Dr Mendoza is currently confirmed a placement under The Mayhew International Veterinary Training Programme in June 2008.