Georgia
Mayhew International is reaching out to help more dogs, cats, and communities.
Georgia
Tbilisi has developed a lot over recent years and is now a thriving city. Because of
this, many people have migrated to the capital and more rural areas of Georgia have
suffered - left with fewer inhabitants, less work opportunities, and less income.
This poverty negatively impacts the welfare of animals because there are few vets
available, and people simply can’t afford a vet’s bill.
Outside of the capital, there’s little knowledge about spaying and basic care
leading to litters of pups and kittens who suffer a very short and painful life.
That’s why raising awareness about good parasite control and general vaccination is
key to preventing the unnecessary suffering of dogs and cats.
How can it be solved?
The lack of infrastructure to address the issue of free-roaming dog and cat
populations; the fact that many towns and regions don’t have any access to
veterinary care; poor general animal welfare within shelters and among pet owners,
have all hampered local government efforts. They want to develop a successful Trap,
Vaccinate, Neuter Release (TVNR) programme to help with over-population and disease
hotspots. But Georgia also needs more experienced vets operating to international
standards - who are trained in animal health and welfare, and who speak the local
language. That’s why Mayhew has spent the last 5 years training a group of Georgian
vets in the capital to focus on cat and dog care - including high standards of
reproductive surgery and preventative care. Using Mayhew-trained vets they initially
supported local groups to deliver this programme.
What needs to happen now?
By providing veterinary and shelter management training to Georgian vets, Mayhew has
helped improve animal welfare standards for dogs and cats in Tbilisi. Mayhew is now
being approached by other towns around the country - where there are a lot of
free-roaming dogs and cats, but few vets. Thanks to the grant of the Edgard & Cooper
Foundation, Mayhew will be able to invest in personnel and equipment to expand their
services across the country.


This is our second commitment to Mayhew International.
2022 - 2023
Our donation will train 22 vets to offer high-quality medical care to over 5,000 cats and dogs. It will enable the building of a new state-of-the-art clinic and expansion of the pop-up clinic to accelerate growth after a successful initial start-up by Mayhew Georgia.
€199,015 pledged.
Thanks to the grant of the Edgard & Cooper Foundation, Mayhew Georgia is able to set
3 targets to for maximum long-term impact:
- Build a new static clinic for the training of vets and assistants. With
community-based welfare services for dogs and cats in, or on the outskirts of
Tbilisi.
- Bring on board a 5th partner clinic to focus specifically on a cat programme.
- Devise a programme for pop-up clinics where all equipment, drug, supplies,
personnel can be loaded into the vehicle.
Timeline
- Q4/2021 we’ll focus on employing vets and
assistants, and training them to Mayhew standards. We’ll acquire premises for new
static clinic.
- Q1/2022 the static clinic will be fully
equipped and we’ll purchase a vehicle and equipment for a mobile clinic.
From the start of 2022, the static clinic/learning centre and pop-up clinic will
both be ready to provide pre and post-op care. Mayhew will increase the provision of
the TVNR programme by directly spaying 1,250 dogs and 150 cats in the static clinic
and helping 1,250 dogs and 100 cats via the pop-up clinic. 10 vets will be given
training in cat and dog health.
In 2023, thanks to the grant, we’ll be able to help even more cats and dogs. Managed
populations of free-roaming dogs in the targeted regions will have overall improved
health and welfare, and more areas and communities understand our humane approach.