Overview of Battersea Dogs Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is one of the UK’s most well-known animal rescue centers. The organization was founded in 1860 in Holloway, London by Mary Tealby under the name Battersea Dogs Home. In 1871, the home relocated to its current location in Battersea, London [1].
The mission of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. They aim to rescue, reunite, rehome and rehabilitate dogs and cats across the UK. Since its founding, Battersea has rescued, reunited and rehomed over 3 million dogs and cats [2].
Battersea operates three centers in London, Brands Hatch and Windsor, and cares for over 5,000 dogs and 1,000 cats every year. They rely on public donations to fund their operations and care for every dog and cat until they find a loving forever home [3].
Who Can Visit Battersea Dogs & Cats Home
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s three adoption centers in London are usually closed to the general public. However, there are a few ways for visitors to gain access to the facilities and meet the animals, including:
Guided Tours – Members of the public can book a place on a guided tour of Battersea’s centers. Tours provide an inside look at the facilities, kennels, catteries, and more while learning about Battersea’s animal adoption and care work.
Special Events – Battersea holds events throughout the year like dog shows, carol concerts, and fundraisers that are open to the public. The annual Christmas carol concert at Battersea allows visitors to meet the dogs and cats.
Volunteering – Volunteers at Battersea assist staff with caring for the animals. Volunteering provides access to interact with the dogs and cats onsite. Tasks include dog walking, socializing cats, grooming, and helping at events.
Visiting Battersea Dogs Home with Your Dog
Many dog lovers may wish to bring their own canine companion when visiting Battersea Dogs Home. However, there are specific rules in place for bringing your dog.
According to Battersea’s website, dogs are not allowed inside the catteries at any of their centres. This is to protect the health and welfare of the rescue cats. Additionally, dogs must be kept on a lead at all times during a visit (Battersea, n.d.).
Your dog can accompany you around most outdoor areas at Battersea’s centres, allowing them a fun day out. However, dogs are not permitted in activity areas where training and assessments take place. Owners should take care that their pets do not interact directly with the rescue dogs at Battersea. This minimizes risk of disease transmission or potential fights between dogs unfamiliar with one another.
Overall, bringing your furry friend along is an option when touring Battersea. But owners need to adhere to the rules so the visit is safe and enjoyable for all. Checking guidelines in advance ensures a smooth trip for both visitor dogs and the rescues awaiting forever homes.
Adoption Process
Battersea has a thorough adoption process to ensure dogs are matched with the right forever home. The adoption process includes an eligibility review, application, home visit, and meet and greet with the dog before final approval.
To be eligible to adopt from Battersea, you must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have identification showing your current address
- Have the landlord’s permission if renting
- Be able to make a lifetime commitment
If eligible, you can fill out an adoption application online or in person. The application collects information on your household, lifestyle, experience with dogs, and preferences. Battersea uses this to start matching applicants with dogs.
If your application is accepted, a Battersea home visitor will schedule a home visit to meet with you and inspect where the dog will live. This ensures your home is safe and suitable. At the home visit, they will also discuss your ideal dog in more detail.
Finally, approved applicants are invited to the rehoming center for a meet and greet with their potential dog. If it goes well, they can move forward with the adoption!
Battersea’s thorough process helps set up successful adoptions. Their rehoming experts take care to find the ideal home for each rescue dog. More details on adopting from Battersea can be found on their website.
Fostering Dogs
Battersea Dogs Home offers two types of fostering programs: short term and long term. Short term fostering involves caring for dogs for a period of 1-2 weeks, such as puppies or dogs recovering from surgery. Long term fostering is ideal for dogs who need extra time and attention before being ready for adoption, and can last from 1-6 months.
To become a foster carer, there are some basic requirements. You must be over 18 years old, have experience caring for dogs, and be able to provide a safe and loving home environment. Battersea provides all food, bedding, medication etc. needed to care for the dogs. Fostering is extremely rewarding and helps save the lives of dogs at Battersea. As one long-term foster carer shared, “I absolutely love fostering dogs from Battersea and after five years, I’ve fostered over 50 dogs” (Battersea press release).
Making Donations
Battersea Dogs Home relies on donations from the public to continue their life-saving work. There are many ways for animal lovers to provide financial support:
Monetary donations can be made online, over the phone, by post, or in person at one of Battersea’s centers. One-time gifts or recurring monthly donations are welcome. Donors can choose to support general operations or specific campaign funds like the Medical Emergency Fund which provides vet care for sick and injured animals.
Legacy giving allows supporters to leave a gift to Battersea Dogs Home in their will. This type of planned giving helps sustain the charity’s long term future. The Battersea Tribute Fund allows people to make donations in memory of a beloved pet or person.
Sponsorship opportunities are available at certain giving levels, enabling donors to have a kennel, cattery, puppy pen, or other area named in their honor. Sponsorships help cover day-to-day costs of caring for animals.
Battersea also offers an annual membership program with exclusive benefits based on membership level. All membership fees provide vital aid to the charity.
Donations of any size make a meaningful difference in Battersea’s ability to rescue and rehome vulnerable dogs and cats. Gifts from animal lovers help give abandoned pets a second chance at life in a loving home.
Volunteering
Battersea Dogs Home relies on volunteers to help care for the dogs and assist with operations at their centers. There are a variety of volunteer roles available to suit different skills and interests. Some key areas where volunteers are needed include:
Dog Care – Volunteers are needed to help feed, groom, exercise, and socialize the dogs. No prior experience is required and full training will be provided onsite. Volunteers must be over 16 years old to work directly with the dogs.
Administration – Volunteers are needed to help with reception duties, paperwork, data entry and other admin tasks. These roles suit those with good organizational skills.
Events – Battersea holds events, tours, fundraisers and other activities where they need volunteers to help with setup, running activities and engaging with the public. These roles suit outgoing people.
Foster Care – Volunteers can provide temporary homes for dogs that need extra care before being ready for adoption. Training and support is provided but volunteers must be over 18 and have suitable home conditions.
All volunteers must attend an induction and training session before starting. Shifts are typically 3-4 hours and volunteers are asked to commit to a regular time if possible. More information can be found on the Battersea website.
Visiting Hours
Battersea Dogs Home is open to visitors 7 days a week from 10am-4pm (last admission at 3:30pm). The gates are closed on Christmas Day.
Parking is available onsite at Battersea in the Visitor Centre car park. There are designated disabled parking bays near the entrance. Parking is free for visitors.
The site is accessible for wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Assistance dogs are welcome. There are accessible toilets and a Changing Places facility with hoist and adjustable changing bench.
Onsite Facilities
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has excellent onsite facilities to care for the animals and serve visitors. This includes veterinary clinics, grooming services, training classes, and a cafe.
The charity runs two onsite vet clinics at its London and Brands Hatch centres that provide medical care for dogs and cats staying at Battersea. The clinics are staffed by experienced vets and nurses who treat injuries, illnesses, and conduct surgeries. All animals are given a full health check upon arrival.
Grooming services are available to keep dogs and cats clean and tidy. This includes bathing, brushing, nail clipping, ear cleaning, and haircuts. Well-groomed pets are more likely to get adopted.
Dog training classes are run onsite by qualified dog trainers. These classes help prepare dogs for life in a new home by teaching them basic obedience and manners. Prospective adopters are encouraged to enroll their newly adopted dog into training.
Visitors can enjoy a meal or snack at the Battersea cafe located in the London centre. The cafe offers hot and cold food, drinks, and sweet treats. Proceeds from the cafe help support Battersea’s rescue work.
With its excellent vet care, grooming services, training classes and cafe, Battersea provides a comfortable environment for the animals and a welcoming place for visitors.
Special Events
Battersea Dogs Home hosts a variety of special events throughout the year such as fundraisers, open days, and dog shows. These exclusive events include sporting events, art exhibitions, prestigious dinners, and more (https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/other-ways-give/special-events).
Some examples of special fundraising events include the Kew Gardens 10K, London Landmarks Half Marathon, Hackney Half Marathon, Asics London 10K, The London Marathon, and the Richmond Marathon (https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/challenges). Participants can fundraise and run for the dogs and cats of Battersea.
The charity also hosts open days and tours at their London centre, allowing visitors to see behind the scenes of the kennels and catteries while learning about the rescue work (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tour-of-batterseas-london-centre-tickets-154679720207). Annual dog shows provide a day of fun competitions and activities for dogs and their owners.