Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - Nearly 150 years old
The best known of these is Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, situated on the South Bank of London's River Thames, near Chelsea Bridge. It is the most famous rescue centre for dogs and cats UK, there is almost nobody in the country who hasn't heard of it and its work. Founded in 1860, it has been helping dogs and cats for almost 150 years.
Picture: Copyright © Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Average Stays at Battersea
The average stay for a dog at the Home is 27 days, and 22 for a cat - some stay a much longer time and some shorter.
The Origins of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home was founded in 1860 by Mrs Mary Tealby but it was situated in Holloway, North London and called Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs. It moved to Battersea in 1871, very close to the famous Battersea Power Station. It was only in 1883 that it started taking cats as well as dogs.Today the aims of the Home remain the same: to rescue, re-unite, rehabilitate and re-home London's lost and unwanted dogs and cats.
Queen Victoria became Patron of the Home in 1885 and other members of the Royal Family have continued the tradition. Currently the present monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Patron and Prince Michael of Kent is the President.
The Home has taken in over 3,000,000 canine waifs and strays during its history, and been rescuing and rehoming cats since 1883. The number rises each year.
Rescue a Dog - Love for Both of You!
Just Gus: A Rescued Dog and the Woman He Loved
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/26/2009)
Gus was injured and abandoned and could easily have become another of the 7 million animals euthanized every year. Stephanie Williams, aged 30 and a successful journalist, had been diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer. She was living alone and on medical leave from work so she wanted a warm four-legged companion. When she saw Gus's soulful eyes and goofy grin, it was love at first sight.
This book Just Gus is about how much one dog did to make a dying woman happy - giving tireless love, comfort, and support. This extraordinary story shows how one dog brought joy and hope to Stephanie Williams' last days.
"You paused outside to look into my cage. I tried to play it right, wanting to catch your eye with a shy glint in my own,
a soft bark, that said, "Choose me," in a canine grammar I hoped you'd understand. "
R.S. Jones, his account of his dog Scout's adoption from a shelter
Here's my favorite link:
Where do all those cats and dogs come from?
Rescued Dogs at a Wildlife Rescue Member's Home Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com
Dogs and cats come in from a variety of places, but most are either strays, picked up by Battersea's fleet of animal ambulances from police stations and dog wardens on a daily basis, and those brought in by owners who are unable - or unwilling - to care for them anymore.
The dogs and cats are cared for by a team of kennel hands, and there is a full-service veterinary clinic with a team of full time vets and veterinary nurses to look after medical needs.
On arrival, every dog has a behavioural and temperament assessment, and the on site rehabilitation department provides extra help in overcoming behavioural problems before rehoming.
Books about Rescue Dogs
Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover's Story of Joy and Anguish
Amazon Price: $15.84 (as of 11/26/2009)
The Dogs Who Found Me: What I've Learned from Pets Who Were Left Behind
Amazon Price: $9.32 (as of 11/26/2009)
Mutts Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed.
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 11/26/2009)
WORD: A Real Dog Locked in a Shelter Cage for Eight Years Until...
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/26/2009)
Shelter Dogs
Amazon Price: $17.05 (as of 11/26/2009)
The team at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home show you around
"Thank God I got the rejects. These animals are very, very affectionate."
Battersea Dogs Homes' Country Annexes
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, London
Copyright Musicnaut
As well as the main Home in Battersea with facilities for 600 dogs and 150 cats, Battersea has two country annexes. 'Battersea at Old Windsor' in Berkshire and 'Battersea at Brands Hatch' in Kent operate the same facilities as the London Home, on a smaller scale.
The home in Old Windsor offers care for up to 170 dogs and 80 cats at any one time and operates in exactly the same way as the London Home.
The home at Brands Hatch, Kent, was bought in 1996 to accommodate animals while the one in Old Windsor was being upgraded. When the work was complete, it was decided that a home in Kent was badly needed even though it would also need upgrading. Building started in 2006 and was finished in July 2007 allowing the home to accommodate 60 dogs and 35 cats.
See a kitten being rehomed at Battersea
"As long as the animal is happy and healthy there is no time limit on how long a dog or cat can stay with us
while waiting for the right home to come along."
No-Kill Policy
Dog at Battersea
Copyright © Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
The only reasons an animal is euthanized is on on heatlh or behavioural grounds, never because the Home is full or it is taking too long to find them a new home. Some animals stay there for years until they find the perfect home.
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is a registered charity that receives no government funding, and depends totally on the financial generosity of supporters.
Here's my favorite link:
A dog's eye view of Battersea
John Simm is Blue in - It's a Battersea Dog's Life -
This is a snippet from a programme directed by Red Planet's Keir Husband for Battersea Dog's Home in 2003. The programme won a US International Film and Video Festival Award. The voice of Blue the dog is none other than the Master himself John Simm. © Red Planet Accidental 2007
Runtime: 199
4719 views
17 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Doggy Products
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
"I very much believe in rescuing animals, not buying them."
Battersea helps pet owners too
Copyright © Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
In August 2008 it launched a microchipping scheme for pet owners in London, in a move to reduce the thousands of lost dogs and cats the Home cares for every year.
It is the first time that microchipping services have been offered to all pet owners who have not rehomed dogs or cats from the Home. They can get their pet microchipped at Battersea for just £15 (about $30).
Scott Craddock, Director of Operations said: "This is a very positive step towards promoting responsible ownership and trying to reduce the number of lost dogs and cats in London."
More Doggy Products
Rescue Dogs Rock Pet Dog Lover Women's V-Neck T-Sh
Price: 22.99
Rescue Dogs Rock Pet Dog Lover Sweatshirt
Price: 38.99
Weiner Best Friend Tote Bag
Price: 15.99
Paw Prints Women's Cap Sleeve T-Shirt
Price: 18.99
Sticker (Oval)
Price: 3.99
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Have you had a rescue dog or cat?
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Reply
- Vladi Vladi May 29, 2009 @ 6:25 am
- And here I was under the delusion that I was the only one in the world with a microchip! Battersea Dogs and Cats Home obviously places a lot of emphasis on the word 'home; - it's just the kind of place we need where I live - can't they open up a branch in Australia?
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Reply
- Margo_Arrowsmith Margo_Arrowsmith Oct 21, 2008 @ 12:57 pm
- What a great place. I usually can't stand to go to these places because I can't leave any of them. I hope you enjoy reading about some American rescuers.
The Princess and the Pauper
*****
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Reply
- vbright105 vbright105 Sep 11, 2008 @ 11:13 am
- What a heartwarming lens, and a wonderful idea! Thanks
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