Cycle for charity

READING CYCLE Club are hoping to help dogs in the third world by organising a charity cycle ride. It is hoped that by getting on your bike that tragedy for one family could bring hope to many dogs and other animals through the Anthony Maynard Sportive.

The Anthony Maynard Sportive will be held in memory of 25-year-old Anthony Maynard, who died tragically during a training cycle ride last July. His family and friends wanted the popular cyclist’s memory and love of animals to live on and so have got together to organise a sponsored cycle ride. The money raised from the cycle ride will go to the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) to help them bring much needed veterinary treatment and care to sick and abandoned
animals.

Anthony was a member of the Reading Cycle Club who promote road safety and safe cycling for young people, as well as organising group cycling days. Adrian Lawson, Chairman at Reading Cycle Club told OUR DOGS:

‘To celebrate Anthony’s love of cycling, this new sportive is to be held in his honour. Anthony was an extremely popular member of Reading CC and is sorely missed by his friends at the cycling club.’ Adrian, also an animal lover, has has been warned by his family that he must not bring home yet another rescue dog but, as he says, it is very hard to resist. Anthony’s father David Maynard will be riding Anthony’s bike on the day, and Anthony’s sister, Teresa, has designed a special
jersey to commemorate her brother’s life and love of animals as well as the cycle ride.

Entries are now being accepted for The Anthony Maynard Sportive which will take place on Sunday 19th July 2009. Almost 300 cyclists have already signed up and to ensure the best possible experience for this challenging ride through the Berkshire Downs, Adrian Lawson told us
that he would like to see as many riders as possible taking part. If anyone wishes to take part or to sponsor a rider they can find entry forms and further information on the website www.anthonymaynardsportive.org.

Anthony had always owned dogs which is one of the animals that WSPA works to protect from cruel treatment around the world. Out of the estimated 500 million dogs in the world, approximately 75% are strays.

A lack of funds leaves strays suffering from hunger and disease, as a result these animals are often seen as a nuisance or health hazard by the people who live alongside them.

WSPA Community Fundraising Manager Jane Rockliffe adds: ‘It is wonderful that Anthony’s friends and family have organised this event in his memory. The amount of people already taking part is a sign of how well loved he was in his community. At the World Society for the Protection of Animals we are grateful that people are coming together to support Anthony’s favourite causes, but there are still spaces left so please sign up and get on your bike.’

Starting from Theale, looping westward taking in the Valley of the Racehorse and the Vale of the White Horse, riders will have the option of 105km or 190km routes. The shorter course will include 1700 metres of ascent while the 20 climbs of the 190km route will provide a testing 2900 metres of ascent.

The plight of strays is one of the most visible animal welfare issues in the world today. Dogs are one of the most affected animals - of the estimated 500 million dogs in the world, approximately 75% are strays.

Life on the streets is hard - stray dogs will fight over the limited amounts of food which can be scavenged. Injuries sustained this way are rarely treated. Tumours, skin infections and open sores are common for stray dogs. Over 75% of puppies in developing countries die in
agony from diseases including rabies and distemper. Stray dogs, frequently suffering from hunger and illness, seek food and shelter in human communities. They are often seen as a nuisance and health hazard by the people who live alongside them.

With a lack of knowledge and resources, communities in developing countries frequently resort to randomly culling strays, by poisoning, electrocuting or shooting dogs. These methods are inhumane, causing the animals great pain and suffering. They are also ineffective in the
long term as they do not address the cause of the problem. The WSPA are working to get communities to use effective and cruelty-free methods of stray population management that address the roots of the problem.

Some of the money raised from the cycle ride will help dogs who are among the casualties of the war in Sierra Leone. During Sierra Leone’s civil war, tens of thousands of people were killed. As the country recovered, the devastating effect of war on domestic animals also became clear. When peace was restored in 2002, overcrowding and desperately poor living standards in the capital Freetown overwhelmed the authorities. A build up of refuse and biological waste provided a food source for dogs and they bred freely. Diseases such as rabies caused great canine suffering and threatened human health.

Freetown is now believed to have one of the highest population densities of dogs in the whole of Africa (around 100,000), most of which live as strays. WSPA is working with the Sierra Leone Animal Welfare Society (SLAWS) to address the problem by running a neutering, de-worming and vaccination programme.

Working with households in Freetown, collecting their dogs, treating and returning them, SLAWS increases the local awareness of animal welfare and humane dog management. As the spread of disease is checked and people become less fearful of dogs, they become more willing to
welcome healthy dogs back into their communities as valued companions.

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