September Stories:

	Fundraising Focus: World Animal Week & Celebrity Christmas Evening
	A Day In The Life: Lucy Edwards – Cat Adoption Officer
	Find Me A Home: Casper
	Volunteer Case Study: Lindsay Harman - Residential Visits
	Happily Homed: Stan
	Mayhew International: Nowzad Dogs Update
	Animal Ideas: First steps with a new adopted cat

Volunteer Case Study:
Lindsay Harman - Residential Visits

This month we hear from Lindsay Harman, a Volunteer who helps out in many different roles at The Mayhew. In this month's story, Lindsay recounts a volunteering experience which will always stick with her. A fine example of how a simple good deed can bring great pleasure to others in need.

I began volunteering at the Mayhew Animal Home in September 2006 and have helped out in several different capacities, but by far the experience that sticks most clearly in my mind is the afternoon I had at Woodlands Hall Retirement Home as part of the Pets For Therapy Programme.

This aspect of volunteering particularly appealed to me because I am fascinated by animal-human interaction and firmly believe that animals (dogs, in particular) can have a profound effect on people's lives. I witnessed this first-hand when Jane, a resident who suffers with severe manic depression met Gety, a rescue Dog from Romania.

As I walked towards Jane, she saw Gety and her face lit up. Jane excitedly reached out to stroke her, held her face in her hands, rubbed her ears and began laughing. The Care Assistant told me that for the majority of the time Jane is angry and tearful due to her depression, so to see her happy was extremely rewarding.

I shared in the assistant's feeling of reward and was pleased to help give those few minutes of joy to Jane, a lady whom towards the end of her life, seldom experiences happiness.

Registered Charity No: 1077588.
Company Ltd by Guarantee No: 3837732.

www.mayhewanimalhome.org