'Brigitte Bardot's lifelong commitment to animals has touched countless lives' - Mayhew
The chief executive of animal charity Mayhew has paid tribute to the vital work of Brigitte Bardot, who has died aged 91.
Elvira Meucci-Lyons said: “Today we’re thinking of everyone at the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and all who are mourning Brigette Bardot.
"She fought fiercely for animals and we’re proud of what this partnership has made possible for animals and communities”.
Never one to shy away from controversy, Bardot starred in almost 50 films before retiring in 1973 to dedicate her life to animal welfare.
In 1986, she established the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to protect animals from abuse and exploitation, and to campaign against practices such as bullfighting and factory farming.
Mayhew is among numerous animal charities supported by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, particularly through its work in Afghanistan.
The Foundation was pivotal in helping Mayhew sustain vital veterinary care and humane dog-population management in extremely challenging conditions. In Kabul, the partnership enabled Mayhew to deliver large scale human trap-neuter-return programmes, through which around 55,000 dogs were neutered.
Support from the Brigitte Bardot Foundation is also enabling Mayhew to expand its work to Tunisia. The progress made in Afghanistan is now being handed to the local authorities and universities, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Mayhew added: ‘Brigitte Bardot's lifelong commitment to animals has touched countless lives. Her Foundations’ work continues to create lasting change, supporting practical, humane solutions, in some the world's most challenging environments’.
Image (C) Mayhew.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
