Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
 | |
| Charity | |
| Industry | Animal welfare |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Founder | Mary Tealby |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Key people |
Claire Horton, Chief Executive Heather Love, Chair |
| Website |
battersea |
Established in 1860, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found, no matter how long it takes.
History
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home was established in Holloway in 1860 by Mary Tealby as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs. The Home moved to Battersea in 1871 opposite Battersea Park and has a view of the Battersea Power Station.
In 1885, Queen Victoria became Patron of the Home, and it has remained under Royal Patronage ever since. Elizabeth II is the current Patron,[1] and Prince Michael of Kent is the President.
During World War II, then manager Edward Healey-Tutt advised against people euthanising their pets because of fear of food shortages. Throughout the war Battersea fed and cared for over 145,000 dogs.
In 2002, the name was changed from Battersea Dogs Home to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home (cats were first admitted in 1883).[2]
To mark its 150th anniversary in 2010, the Royal Mail released a set of stamps featuring a series of dogs and cats that had been adopted by staff.[3] It also launched a commemorative book, A Home of Their Own, which charts the history of the Home. This includes a look at notable people who have adopted animals such as Elton John, who credited his pet, Thomas, with helping him through a rough period.[4] Starting in 2011, Battersea implemented the "Staffies. They're Softer Than You Think" campaign to educate the public about the positive attributes of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.[5][6]
On 17 March 2015 Queen Elizabeth II unveiled a plaque to officially open the Mary Tealby [dog] kennels at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.[7]
In addition to the site in south-west London, the Home also has two other centres based at Old Windsor, Berkshire and Brands Hatch, Kent.
Aims
The Established in 1860, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home aims to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found, no matter how long it takes. Battersea champions and supports vulnerable dogs and cats, determined to create lasting changes for animals in society.
Achievements
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home cared for nearly 5000 dogs and over 3000 cats in 2015 (over 8000 animals a year)
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has an average of 260 dogs and 220 cats at any one time on site and on foster
- The Home's average daily intake is 13 dogs and 9 cats
- The average stay for dogs is 30 days and for cats is 22 days. There is no time limit on how long a dog will stay in Battersea's care until a loving home can be found.
- Across all three sites, the Home employs approximately 400 members of staff in a range of operational and administrative roles.
- There are currently 1200 volunteers working in the Home. They carry out a range of functions including walking the dogs and socialising with both the dogs and cats, gardening, kennel support, administration and leading education talks.)
Media
TV programmes
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has featured on many television programmes and documentaries, including The Voice, X Factor, The Apprentice, The One Show and Strictly Come Dancing.
The Channel 4 programme Pet Rescue which aired in 1997 featured Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. The BBC One show Animal Rescue Live was broadcast live for a week at Battersea in 2007.
Since 2012, ITV's Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs has been filmed at Battersea.[8] The show has won two National Television Awards for Factual Entertainment and is made up of four series.
Ambassadors
Since 2012, model David Gandy and presenter Paul O'Grady have been celebrity Ambassadors of the Home.[9][10]
Author Dame Jacqueline Wilson has been a supporter of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for many years and was named an ambassador in 2013.[11]
After presenting the annual Collars & Coats Gala Ball alongside Paul O'Grady, actress and talent show judge Amanda Holden became an Ambassador of Battersea in 2013.[12]
Celebrity Friends
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is supported by a host of high profile celebrities who attend Battersea's events, support campaigns and rehome animals including Tom Hardy, Jeremy Irons, Simon Cowell, Sue Barker, Anthony Head, Craig Revel-Horwood, Kirsty Gallacher, Susie Dent, Rosie Marcel, Dr Christian Jessen and Nicky Clarke.
Notable Alumni
Larry - Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office 2011-
Palmerston - Chief Mouser to the Foreign Office 2016-
Governance
The Chief Executive is Claire Horton, assisted by several directors, reporting to the Council of Trustees, of which the chairman is Heather Love and the vice-chair is Amanda Burton. The Council consists of 11 Trustees, one of whom is elected as chairman. The Trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the Home and monitoring the achievement of objectives and the financial position.
Funding
The Home receives no government funding and is run almost entirely on donations from the public.
Transport
Battersea Park station for National Rail and Queenstown Road (Battersea) station for National Rail services are located nearby on Battersea Park Road. In the future the Northern line will serve the Home at a station called Battersea Power Station.
See also
References
- ↑ Pet Planet. Retrieved 28 March 2008
- ↑ Ardagh, Philip (1 October 2008). Philip Ardagh's Book of Absolutely Useless Lists for Absolutely Every Day of the Year. Pan Macmillan. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-330-43417-1. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- ↑ Prigg, Mark (2 March 2010). "Battersea stamps place in animal history". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
- ↑ "A Home Of Their Own" by Garry Jenkins p.306. Transworld Publishing 2010. Retrieved on the book's Google preview 25 June 2013.
- ↑ "Staffies-They're Softer Than You Think". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- ↑ "Rain Rescue teams up with Battersea to show the true soft nature of Staffies". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ↑ "Britain's Queen Elizabeth II unveils a plaque to officially open the... News Photo". Getty Images. 17 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ↑ Iley, Chrissy (31 August 2012). "Paul O'Grady discovers how hard the Battersea Dogs Home staff work to care for their neglected residents". Daily Mail. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
- ↑ "First Ambassador David Gandy". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ↑ "Puppy Love for Paul". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
- ↑ "Jacqueline Wilson: toy dog 'most important part of my childhood'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ↑ "Amanda Holden becomes ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home". Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
External links
- Official Website
- Charity Commission. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, registered charity no. 206394.
- Independent – The curious incident of the hungry dog in the night-time
Coordinates: 51°28′43″N 0°08′41″W / 51.4785°N 0.1448°W