Introduction
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is one of the oldest and most well-known animal rescue organizations in the UK. Founded in 1860 by Mary Tealby as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs, its original mission was to provide food and shelter for the many stray dogs roaming the streets of London at the time (Wikipedia, 2023). Today, Battersea cares for over 7,000 dogs, cats, and other animals each year across three centers in London. Their vision is “to never turn a dog or cat away” and their mission is “finding good homes and providing excellent care” for all animals in need.
In addition to adoption services, Battersea provides veterinary care, lost and found services, a pet fostering program, and an animal welfare education program. They are dedicated to treating all animals with kindness, respect and compassion from the moment they arrive. The organization relies on donations from the public to continue their life-saving work.
Adoption Process
Battersea Dogs Home has a thorough adoption process to ensure their rescue dogs go to loving forever homes. To adopt a dog from Battersea, you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Have identification showing your current address
- Have the consent of your landlord if renting
- Bring all members of your household to meet the dog, including any existing pets
- Have a home visit before adopting the dog
Battersea aims to match you with a suitable dog for your home, family, and lifestyle. Their staff will guide you through the process and provide advice on caring for your new dog.
The adoption fee at Battersea is £175 for dogs over six months old and £200 for puppies under six months old. This covers the cost of vaccinations, microchipping, neutering/spaying, worming, flea treatments, and some initial food. Additional donations are welcome but not required [1].
The fee goes towards Battersea’s running costs and allows them to continue rescuing and rehoming dogs. Adopting from Battersea offers the reward of giving an abandoned or mistreated dog a second chance at a happy life.
Visiting Battersea
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has two sites in London that are open to the public – the main catteries in Battersea and the Brands Hatch site in Kent. At the Battersea site, visitors can tour the kennels and catteries to see the dogs and cats awaiting adoption. There is a small fee to visit the catteries at Battersea.
According to the Battersea website (https://www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/visit-us/come-and-visit-battersea), it costs £9.10 per person to visit the catteries, with an optional 90p donation. This excludes any booking fees that may apply. So visiting the dogs and cats at the main Battersea site is not free for the general public.
The fee to visit Battersea helps support the care and welfare of the animals. Visitors can see behind the scenes of the adoption center and meet with staff and volunteers. It provides an educational experience while also generating revenue for the charity.
Donation Information
As a charity, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home relies solely on the generosity of the public for funding, receiving no government support. As stated on their website, “With no government funding, philanthropic support has a direct and profound impact on the ability of Battersea to be here to help the thousands of dogs and cats that desperately need us each year.” Donations are absolutely vital to enable the organization to continue their life-saving work.
There are several ways individuals and organizations can support Battersea through financial contributions:
- One-time or recurring donations
- Donations in honor of a loved one
- Corporate and trust partnerships
- Legacy gifts
Donations of any size make a meaningful difference in providing care, treatment, and finding loving homes for animals in need. Funds go towards food, shelter, medical treatment, behavioral rehabilitation, adoption services, and outreach programs. By supporting Battersea financially, donors directly enable their mission of never turning away a dog or cat in need.
Volunteering
Battersea Dogs Home offers a variety of volunteer opportunities for animal lovers who want to get involved and make a difference (source). Some of the roles available include dog walking, administration, events support, maintenance, and more. Volunteers can choose to commit to regular shifts each week or volunteer for one-off events.
Volunteering at Battersea provides many benefits for both the dogs and the volunteers themselves (source). For the dogs, volunteers help provide much-needed care, socialization, and exercise. The dogs benefit greatly from the extra attention and human interaction. For volunteers, benefits include gaining new skills, meeting new people, getting exercise (for dog walking roles), and the satisfaction of making a positive impact.
Volunteering at Battersea is a rewarding way for animal lovers to help dogs in need while also gaining valuable skills and experiences. With a variety of roles available, Battersea makes it easy for people to find a volunteering opportunity that fits their interests and schedule.
Key Statistics
Battersea Dogs Home saves and finds new homes for thousands of dogs and cats each year. According to their 2022 annual report, they rehomed 3,077 animals in 2022, including 1,258 dogs and 1,819 cats. This was an increase from the prior year, with dog rehomings up 31% from 957 in 2021.
Battersea has three centers across London and provides a number of services including rehoming lost and abandoned animals, operating a free lost and found service, and providing educational programs. Their work has saved thousands of animal lives annually.
History & Heritage
Battersea was established in 1860 in Holloway by Mary Tealby as the ‘Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs’, as a place where people could bring lost dogs found wandering the streets of London [1]. It was later renamed Battersea Dogs Home.
In 1871, the home relocated from Holloway to its current location in Battersea. In 1923, Battersea began taking in cats as well as dogs [2].
Key milestones include:
- 1860 – Founded as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs in Holloway by Mary Tealby
- 1871 – Relocated to current site in Battersea
- 1923 – Began accepting cats as well as dogs
Future Plans
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has an ambitious 5-year strategic plan to help even more dogs and cats. Some of their key future plans include:
Development plans to build new rehoming centres across the UK. Battersea hopes to open 3 new centres by 2023, expanding their ability to care for vulnerable dogs and cats. A new centre opened in Brands Hatch in 2019. Further plans include developing their Scottish centre and building a new centre in the north of England (HERE FOR EVERY DOG AND CAT).
Major fundraising campaigns to support their future growth. As Battersea receives no government funding, donations and philanthropy are critical. They aim to increase their annual fundraising income to over £100 million by 2023. This will help cover the costs of their ambitious expansion plans and allow them to help even more dogs and cats (Philanthropy).
Conclusion
In conclusion, while visiting and adopting from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home does not require an admission fee, there are still many ways to support this historic rescue organization. Whether through volunteering your time, donating money and supplies, or simply spreading the word, we can all help Battersea continue their mission of never turning away an animal in need.
With impressive adoption numbers over their 160+ year history, as well as ambitious plans for improving their facilities, Battersea is poised to help many more animals find their forever homes. If you’re considering adoption or want to get involved, be sure to visit their website or stop by one of their centres in London. Every contribution makes a difference in providing the best possible care for the dogs and cats of Battersea.
References
Here are the sources used in researching this article on Battersea Dogs Home:
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. (2021). Our history. https://www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/our-history
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. (2021). Rehoming process. https://www.battersea.org.uk/rehoming/rehoming-process
BBC News. (2019). Battersea Dogs Home fundraising for redevelopment. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-48981845
RSPCA. (2021). Thinking of adopting a dog? https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/company/adoptingadog
The Kennel Club. (2021). Finding the right dog for you. https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/finding-the-right-dog/