Royals

Duchess Meghan has opened up about the ‘joy’ of adopting rescue animals

The animal-lover penned a passionate foreword for animal charity The Mayhew’s annual review.
meghan markle and a dogGetty Images

At the beginning of this year the Duchess of Sussex was bestowed her first royal patronages, being appointed patron of the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, female employment cause Smart Works and animal rescue charity The Mayhew.

Since the announcement in January the Duchess has undertaken royal engagements for all four of her patronages, but it was her visit to The Mayhew that really caught our eye – namely the adorable animal encounters!

Meghan is know to love animals – particularly dogs! (Image: Getty)

It’s no secret that Meghan is a huge animal-lover, having owned several rescue pups herself, and so it comes as no surprise that the charity, which works to improve the lives of animals and the community including rehoming rescued animals, providing low-cost preventative treatment, is close to the Duchess’ heart.

And now, for The Mayhew’s annual review, Meghan has penned a passionate foreword, in which she discusses her personal joy at adopting rescue animals and the incredible work the charity undertakes.

“As a proud rescue dog owner, I know from personal experience the joy that adopting an animal into your home can bring,” the Duchess writes.

“The role that we, as people, play in rehoming and rescuing these animals is vital, but the role of organisations such as Mayhew is unparalleled.”

Explaining why she decided to work with the animal charity Meghan writes, “What initially struck me about Mayhew specifically is their community based approach not simply on rehoming animals, but in the preventative care that inhibits these cats and dogs from ending up in shelters in the first place.

“From Mayhew’s global education programmes to their community work on a micro level with the elderly, homeless, and vulnerable communities, they actively seek solutions that allow people to stay with their animals and have the support they need to do so.”

She continues, “The choice to adopt a pet is a big decision that comes with much responsibility but infinite return on the investment. It will undoubtedly change your life.”

Meghan shared plenty of photos of her dogs on her now-deleted Instagram. (Image: Instagram/@meghanmarkle)

She then encourages readers to get involved in whatever way they can, whether it be through adoption, volunteering, donating or spread the word, “we are all interconnected and through these animals we find an even greater link to community and the part we can play.

“I am proud to support Mayhew and work alongside them as they continue to improve the lives of animals and people, to create more supportive and compassionate communities both London and internationally.”

Meghan was pregnant with baby Archie when she visited The Mayhew in January, and was captured cuddling up to several of the rescue dogs, including Minnie, a one-year-old Jack Russell.

The visit also provided a bit of a laugh for the Duchess who was given a rather interesting and unexpected ‘compliment’ from a rest home resident, with the well-meaning woman calling her a “fat lady” while motioning to Meghan’s growing baby bump, to which Meghan laughed and responded, “I’ll take it!”

Watch the hilarious moment below.

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