In an event hosted at animal welfare charity Mayhew in North West London, family and friends of the late dog behaviourist and trainer, Oli Juste, as well as celebrities and Mayhew supporters gathered to unveil the Oli Juste Wing; refurbished kennels providing warmth, safety and shelter for the dogs that come into Mayhew's care.
The wing was made possible by a generous donation from Mayhew's former Patron and Oli's dear friend, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. Oli first introduced The Duchess to Mayhew in 2019. They shared many things throughout their friendship, among which was a deep commitment to animal welfare and a love of rescue dogs. When he tragically passed in January 2022, The Duchess, through The Archewell Foundation, made a contribution to Mayhew in Oli's honour to continue his legacy. The donation has also enabled the charity to make significant improvements to their dog run and garden which provide an enriching experience for rescued dogs while they are waiting to be rehomed.
Actress Laura Aikman, Mayhew Chief Executive Sherine Wheeler and Rob Le Maistre (photographer: Ben Stevens)
The opening was attended by actors Nigel Harman, Rula Lenska, Beatie Edney and Laura Aikman, and key figures from the animal welfare sector including the Chair of the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes, as well as the Mayor of Brent. Guests had the chance to see the difference the donation has made to the premises, and to hear firsthand from pet owners of dogs and cats who have benefitted from Mayhew's vital work to keep pets and people together.
The Duchess delivered a personal video message in Oli's memory, and in support of Mayhew, which was shown at the event.
"A heartfelt thank you to the wonderful team at Mayhew who have worked tirelessly to bring this dream to life. It was so important to find a way to celebrate Oli's memory in a manner that he would have loved," said Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex. "Mayhew is a beacon of hope for those in need and a shining example of what can be achieved when we work together."
Actress Rula Lenska with Mayhew Chief Executive, Sherine Wheeler (photographer: Ben Stevens)
Sherine Wheeler, Chief Executive said; "We are so delighted to celebrate and honour Oli's life in this way, we are so grateful for his friendship and contribution to Mayhew. He combined his expertise as a renowned dog trainer with a passion for animal welfare to make a huge difference for rescue dogs.
Thanks to the generosity of the Duchess of Sussex, our former Royal Patron, we have been able to make key improvements to our spaces for dogs in our care and create a comfortable and stimulating environment for them; a fitting legacy for Oli's dedication to improving the lives of dogs.
Actor Nigel Harman (photographer: Ben Stevens)
We are also pleased to launch our new fundraising campaign, Lasting Love: keeping pets and people together to raise vital funds for our London clinic, which every day works to keep pets and people together by providing preventative veterinary care to the companions of pet owners who could not otherwise afford it, free of charge and without judgment – but which is struggling to meet surging demand.
This campaign feels a special way to remember Oli, whose commitment to the human-animal bond was an inspiration to us all. Through our campaign, we hope to reach even more pets whose owners cannot afford essential preventative veterinary treatment."
For more information about the Lasting Love Campaign please visit: https://themayhew.org/lasting-love/
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