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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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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.