Help our vital new campaign - The Mayhew Animal Home

The road to recovery
Each and every one of the animals that arrive into our care has a
different tale to tell. Sadly, for some of them, that story is one of suffering.
Here are a few updates about some animals who have travelled the road to
recovery with us and now have a second chance at happiness.
Ruth When Ruth arrived in
July 2011 it was a miracle she
was even able to stand, let alone
wag her tail and attempt to
jump up for hugs and kisses.
Her skeletal frame brought
gasps of horror from every
member of staff. Her hip bones
and shoulder blades protruded
at sharp angles, each rib
perfectly outlined, her skin
stretched taut over her bones.
Her head seemed grotesquely
out of proportion to the tiny
body now carried behind it.
Weighing in at just 13kg, Ruth
was literally half her normal
body weight, which should be
25-30kg.
Thankfully, blood tests
carried out by our vets
confirmed no lasting organ
damage and this surprisingly
buoyant girl recovered very
well and has been with us for
the last ten months as we have
been waiting for the
prosecution case against her
owner to go to court.
Finally, on Friday May 11th,
the court delivered its sentence
to her previous owner; a 12
month period of community
service, a £1200 fine and a
three year ban on owning
another dog.
Carly Webber, the Animal
Welfare Officer involved in
Ruth’s court case, said: “We are
delighted that justice has been
served for Ruth. Too many animal
abuse cases don’t make it through
the courts but the treatment of this
poor girl was too horrific to ignore.
This poor dog literally came back
from the brink of death and now,
thankfully, has a second chance to
have a happy life instead of one of
perpetual misery. This kind of
animal abuse goes on behind so
many closed doors and is indicative
of many problems in our current
society and the ease as to which
people can obtain an animal. I
hope never to see an animal in her
condition again.”
Four year old, Boxer cross,
Ruth is now looking for a
forever home and will make a
wonderful companion as she is
a sweet and loyal girl. Anyone
interested in giving her that
safe, forever home she so very
much deserves should contact
lisa@mayhewanimalhome.org
Black Magic When one of
our AWOs brought in a severely
underweight cat on February
11th, her list of injuries appeared
to tell a terrifying tale.
Covered from head to toe in
mud, with a thick belt tied
tightly around her neck, she
had friction burns on her paws
and legs suggesting someone
had dragged her across the
ground then violently flung her
aside and left her for dead.
We can’t be sure how long she
spent suffering alone and
outside in the cold, but the tips
of her ears had started to die
and fall off – she was a pitiful
sight to behold.
This two year old puss was still
Doris Do you remember this
little lady from our appeal at
the beginning of the year?
Doris was found by a nurse in
a confused state in a hospital
car park.
Nurse Jackie explains: “As I
left work after my night shift, I saw
a black and white, terribly thin cat
who seemed to be bumping into cars
and trees. The cat seemed
disorientated, possibly blind, and
ambulances and cars were flying
past. She had no collar on but as I
tried to lift her up she was still
purring and seemed happy. My
Dad and I took her in a box to The
Mayhew and I was sure she was
almost dead or dying. I felt happy I
had done the right thing but
thought her fate was inevitable.
surprisingly affectionate, despite
her traumatic experience, and
thankfully, in no time at all she
was leaving The Mayhew for her
new forever family, who recently
sent us an update on her
progress, which delighted us all:
“Black Magic (now Magic) has
settled in very well. She soon got
into every nook and cranny of the
house – not shy in spite of all her
hardships. She wasn’t impressed
with the bed we had set out for her
but has found her own nests where
she wants them – a corner of the
sofa and a bed. There’s a six-year
old girl who lives with us at the
weekends and I really think that
Magic looks forward to her arrival
– she’s better at playing than we
However after becoming a
Facebook friend of The Mayhew I
saw a piece about abandoned
animals and could not believe my
eyes that after four months the little
cat I had found was still alive!”
Eight year old Doris went
from strength to strength after
recovering in our vet clinic and
it wasn’t long before a kind family
took her on permanent foster.
“Since Doris arrived in our house
she has become an avid murder
mystery fan. She enjoys nothing
more than sitting on the sofa
watching bad daytime TV, sleeping
and occasionally jumping down for
a nice plate of Tuna. Doris came to
live with us after a very rocky life
and is no ordinary animal. She is
full of live and love and enjoys lots
are. The next step is to get her
interested in the garden. She likes to
look, and has put a paw out from
time to time when the door is open
but remains a house cat for now.
When the sun shines though, I’m
sure we’ll be able to tempt her. We’re
all very happy to have her – she’s
nudging her way under my arm as
I’m typing so I’d better go before she
hops onto the keyboard.”
Cynthia
of hugs. Giving a new home to an
elderly pussycat was one of the best
things we have done. I would
recommend it to anyone.”
Sarah and Menear
16 The Mayhew
www.mayhewanimalhome.org 17