Animal welfare charity, Mayhew releases its first radio advert which aims to celebrate and illustrate the importance of the bond we share with our pets in these trying times.
Through the advert which highlights the ‘A Life Shared’ campaign, they also seek to raise £5,500 to help vulnerable people and their pets through unprecedented times.
The past six months have been incredibly hard for millions of people across the world, and although normal life has never felt further away, many of us have found comfort in our beloved pets.
A spokesperson for Mayhew commented: “We know that in times of uncertainty and fear, sharing our time and space with animals can make a huge difference to mental and physical health. Hundreds of thousands of people have relied on their four-legged friends for joy, companionship, love and encouragement during lockdown, and we know that these feelings have been reciprocated. 
“We also know that animal welfare issues are at risk of being ignored and sidelines right now, when in fact pets provide a necessary and increasingly crucial role in vulnerable people’s lives. In short, we know that being together and staying together has never been more important.”
Back in January, Mayhew released a selection of poems and animated videos in partnership with McCann Demand, written from the perspective of a pet and an owner and voiced by Louis Theroux and Emily Raymond. The poems revealed the supportive and interdependent natural of the relationship we all share with our four-legged friends and spoke of how crucial it is to maintain and appreciate this unique bond between humans and animals.
At the time, Mayhew could never have predicted how important these words would become.
Today, the charity is building on this theme of ‘A Life, Shared’ through a dedicated radio advertising campaign, voiced by Hollywood actor Jason Fleming and psychotherapist and author Phillipa Perry.
As the pandemic continues and we move into the winter months, Mayhew are even more keen to protect the bond between people and their pets and help keep families big and small together.
Jason said “I honestly don’t know what I would do without my dog. I love her as much as I have ever loved anything, and when it feels like the world has got the hump on with me, she always makes me smile. I can’t tell you how much it means to know she’s there for me, no matter what happens or how I feel.
“That’s why, when Mayhew got in touch about this campaign, I was more than happy to be involved. They really understand how important the bond between a person and their pet is, especially in times like these.”
Phillipa Perry added “My cat, Kevin, is one of my best friends. I’m totally devoted to him, and I like to think he loves me just as much. We have an intense co-dependent relationship, to the point where my mood and mental health is directly affected by what Kevin is up to.
“I can’t imagine living without him – Kevin has gone missing a few times in the past and that was bad enough, it would break my heart to have to give him up permanently. Mayhew do a brilliant job of keeping pets and people together, and it’s something both me and Kevin feel strongly about.”
Helping people, helping animals
Throughout lockdown, those of us lucky enough to share our lives with an animal know how precious their company is. However, with the worry of economic disaster and the winter flu season, on top of a rising coronavirus infection rate, hanging over our heads, many people are still at risk of losing everything – including their beloved pets.
It’s more essential than ever that Mayhew’s community projects are here for those who need them. They support vulnerable pet owners and those going through a crisis in many different ways, from providing free food and veterinary care to temporarily fostering an animal whilst an owner gets themselves back on their feet.
They also work in tandem with a number of homeless charities and hostels, ensuring that people with nowhere to go and no-one to turn to don’t also have to give up their best friend and only source of comfort. No government funding is received for what they do, and the effects of the pandemic have hit us hard.
Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers are doing everything they can to support people all across London, but with a reduced capacity and even more demand on our time and resources, they now urgently need your help to ensure we can remain a lifeline.
Where can you hear the advert?
The new radio advert can be heard on over 100 digital radio stations – including Capital FM, Classic FM, LBC and Gold – from Tuesday 15 September, and will run for four weeks.
You can also find information about this campaign on their website and social media channels, where they will be sharing beautifully designed animations drawn by Dane Khy and animated by Coffee & TV; which once again illustrate the importance of protecting the life-affirming bond between pets and their owners.
Their aim is to raise £7,500, which could either provide almost 1,000 animals with essential vaccinations or cover the cost of running our animal ambulance for the rest of the year. You can donate £5 by texting MAYHEW to 70085.
