Help our vital new campaign - The Mayhew Animal Home

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The Mayhew
5 minutes with…
actor James Thornton
Actor James Thornton is an animal lover and
charitable chap, who loves to support rescue
centres working to help pets in need. He came
along to our Hyde Bark event in April with his
wife, actress Jo Page, to judge at our Diamond
Dogs’ Dog Show. It was a fantastic day and we
loved having Jo and James join us, though they
always have trouble picking out the winning
hound as they love all dogs so much! We spent
five minutes chatting to James about why
animals mean so much to him in his life.
You met dogs of all shapes and sizes at
Hyde Bark. What type of dog do you think
you are most like?
I really like Bedlington terriers and my wife
thinks that is because I am like one! Maybe it
is because of my curly hair or that I am quite
chilled and normally do as I am told!
You have your own dog, Daisy. If you could
ask her one question, what would that be?
I would ask her “what it is about water that you
love so much?” She is obsessed, swimming and
paddling in water comes before sticks and even
food! She also loves belly flopping into water
from a height and always draws a crowd when
she does it. She is a natural performer. Recently
she jumped into the river Aire and I had to dive
in to get her out!
What is your earliest animal memory?
When I was young (about 7 or 8) I used to keep
goats and chickens. I remember taking my goat
Heidi to shows. We never won anything but I
used to love it. She used to nibble my Mum’s
washing on the line and was always jumping over
the wall into the farmer’s field. I also used to
love when our chickens’ eggs hatched and we
would have loads of tiny, bright, yellow chicks.
I used to sit and talk to them while they climbed
all over my arms and sat on top of my head!
If you could be one animal for a day, which
would that be?
I would love to be a dolphin. Jo and I took a boat
out to see them recently while on holiday. It was
one of the most wonderful things I have ever
seen. They were jumping in the air and flopping
into the sea right in front of us. A bit like our
dog Daisy!
Why did you choose to support The Mayhew
at Hyde Bark?
I absolutely love dogs and the work that The
Mayhew does is incredible. It breaks my heart to
see the dogs that need a home and I always want
to take them all home with me but it is great to
know that The Mayhew was there to help dogs
find a stable, loving home. Hyde Bark was such a
fantastic event; it is a great way to celebrate dogs
having fun and to support a fantastic cause.
I loved seeing all the wonderful breeds and
meeting the wonderful owners to share stories
with fellow dog lovers.
I can’t wait for next year now because every
year it gets bigger and better!
Are you a Friend of The Mayhew?
Become a Friend of The Mayhew today and you’ll enjoy:
• Exclusive ‘I am a Friend of The Mayhew’ keyring;
• Free entry into our open day in July, and Christmas fair events;
• Three editions of our magazine;
• Information and updates on our work;
• Plus… FREE membership card, which gives you our commitment to take in and care
for your dog or cat and find it a suitable new home in the event of your death.
Best of all you’ll know that you are helping us to provide shelter and care for cats, dogs and
rabbits and to tackle the companion animal welfare crisis through our educational work.
Call 020 8968 2446 and sign up today!