Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
 |
|
| Type | Charity |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animal welfare |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Website | Official website |
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the UK's oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats and is situated in the Battersea area of London, England. It is financed by voluntary donations with an income of almost £12.2 million in 2010.
Contents |
[edit] History
Formerly the 'Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs', it was established in Holloway in 1860 by Mrs Mary Tealby. The home moved to Battersea in 1871 opposite Battersea Park and has a view of the iconic Battersea Power Station.
In 1885, Her Majesty Queen Victoria became Patron of the Home, and it has remained under Royal Patronage ever since. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the Patron.[1] Prince Michael of Kent is the President.
In 2002, the name was changed from 'The Battersea Dogs Home' to 'The Battersea Dogs and 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 has also launched a commemorative book "A Home Of Their Own" which charts the history of the Home. This includes a look at the notables who have adopted animals, such as Elton John, who credited his pet, Thomas, with helping him through a rough period.
[edit] Aims
Its aims as a charity are never to turn away a dog or cat in need of help. They reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners; when they can’t do this, they care for them until new homes can be found for them; and they educate the public about responsible pet ownership.
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.
[edit] Achievements
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home cared for 5,941 dogs and 2,963 cats in 2011 (about 9,000 animals a year)
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home usually has around 450 dogs and 150 cats across its three sites and on foster at any one time.
- The Home’s average daily intake is 14 dogs and 8 cats.
- The average stay for dogs is 45 days, and for cats is 28 days across all three sites. However there is no time limit on how long a dog or cat stays in our care if it is suitable for rehoming.
- 2,705 dogs were rehomed in 2011
- 2,550 cats were rehomed in 2011
- Across all three sites, the Home employs approximately 331 members of staff in a range of operational and administrative roles.
- There are currently 616 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, admin and leading education talks.
[edit] Governance
The Chief Executive and Company Secretary is Claire Horton, assisted by several directors, reporting to the Council of Trustees (Chairman: Heather Love, Vice Chair: Bradley Viner) which reports to the eighty Charity Life Members at its AGM every June.
[edit] Funding
The Home receives no government funding and is run almost entirely on donations from the public.
[edit] See also
- The Blue Cross
- Dogs Trust
- National Animal Welfare Trust
- PDSA
- DogsBlog.com
- Humane Society of the United States
- Women and animal advocacy
[edit] References
- ^ Pet Planet accessed 28/03/08
- ^ Ardagh, Philip (2008). Philip Ardagh's Book of Absolutely Useless Lists for Absolutely Every Day of the Year. Pan Macmillan. p. 96. ISBN 9780330434171. http://books.google.com/?id=-5c4FkxXpHwC&pg=PA96&dq=battersea+dogs+home+cats+1883#v=onepage&q=battersea%20dogs%20home%20cats%201883&f=false. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- ^ Prigg, Mark (2 March 2010). "Battersea stamps place in animal history". London Evening Standard. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23811157-battersea-stamps-place-in-animal-history.do. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
