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TheraPaws project receives funding boost
TheraPaws provides Animal Assisted Interventions to those needing support.
Mayhew-run initiative provides animal assisted interventions.

Animal welfare charity Mayhew has received a grant of £145,480 for the TheraPaws project, which provides Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) for physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

The project allows trained volunteers and their behaviourally assessed dogs to visit the elderly, young people with mental health issues and patients in hospitals and clinics to provide support.

Provided by the Pets at Home Foundation, the grant will be used to recruit a full-time coordinator to develop and manage the TheraPaws programme. This new appointment aims to create more community partnerships, coordinate sessions, and train and support more volunteers – enabling TheraPaws to provide AAI to more people. 

Sherine Wheeler, Mayhew's chief executive, discussed the grant: “This important grant can make a difference to people of all ages in our community. 

“It means we can expand the programme with new partnerships, recruit more volunteers, partner with more venues and improve the health and wellbeing of many more people through our hugely impactful therapeutic pet visits.

“It is a fantastic start to 2023 and we look forward to seeing TheraPaws go from strength to strength in the future.”

The project has an undeniable impact on the community, with 40 visits and 553 individual therapy engagements undertaken in 2022. These took place in locations such as hospital wards, care homes, schools, mental health clinics and eating disorder clinics.

Pets at Home Foundation charity manager Amy Angus added: “We’re very proud to work with Mayhew, as not only does it help pets in need, but it cares hugely about the local community too. It is a real privilege to be able to support them.”

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.