Battersea Dogs Home
Posted on Monday, January 31 @ 19:12:18 GMT by jenvetadmin
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jenvetnurse writes "This article tells all about what they do.
• There are usually around 400 dogs and 100 cats at the Home, but at our busiest times this can rise to 500 dogs and 150 cats.
• It costs an average of over £700 to care for each dog or cat – no matter how long or short their stay.
• The kennels at the Home are cleaned twice daily, when each dog and cat receives a fresh blanket. We use over 1000 blankets every day.
• There are around 200 staff at Battersea in London, made up of kennel staff, vets, vet nurses, behaviourists, rehomers, maintenance and administrative staff. There are another 60 members of staff at our two country sites at Old Windsor in Berkshire and Brands Hatch in Kent.
• We would not be able to provide the high standard of care we achieve today without our ‘army’ of 150 volunteers. These wonderful people help by walking dogs and socialising both dogs and cats.
In 2004…
we cared for over 8,600 dogs and 2,500 cats
over 48% of the lost dogs and cats, reunited that came into the Home were reunited with their owners
we rehomed over 3,600 dogs and 2,100 cats
we received an average of 22 dogs and seven cats every day
on average, about 10 dogs and six cats were rehomed each day
the average stay for a dog was 24 days, and 21 days for a cat
we welcomed over 115,000 visitors to our three sites
our drivers covered 119,270 miles collecting stray animals
by the end of 2004 we had taken in over 3 million dogs and cats since the Home was founded in 1860
Every dog or cat re-homed:
• is microchipped for future identification
• is neutered (or a neutering voucher is issued)
• receives three months free outpatient care for illness contracted in the Home
• has received a number of vaccinations
• has a full veterinary history since entering the Home
• has a full background on behaviour, personality and needs
• has access to Battersea’s Behaviour Hotline
• receives a starter pack of food
• receives one year free Petsafe identification
It costs £70 to rehome a dog and £40 for a cat
Our Aims
to rescue, reunite, rehabilitate, and rehome the lost and abandoned
dogs and cats that come into our care.
• to give temporary shelter to lost and abandoned dogs and cats
• to re-unite lost dogs and cats with their owners
• to find permanent homes for abandoned dogs and cats
• to educate the public about responsible pet ownership
Battersea Dogs Home is a charity funded solely on the generosity of its supporters through fundraising, donations and legacies.
Fundraising activities include:
Sponsor a Kennel: for £5 a month, supporters can sponsor a kennel and receive twice-yearly updates on the dogs that have spent time in their kennel.
Christmas Raffle: raffle tickets to buy and sell with fantastic prizes, generously donated by companies and individuals. The raffle is drawn around Christmas at a prestigious London event.
‘Battersea Buys’ merchandise, pet accessories and seasonal goods, which are sold though the shops at our three centres and online at www.dogshome.org.
Prestigious events, such as operas at the Royal Geographic Society
Fundraising trips and treks
‘Walk your dog to school day’, launched in October 2004
Our History
In 1860 Mrs Mary Tealby, concerned by the number of animals roaming the streets of London, opened ‘The Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs’ in a stable yard in Holloway.
The Home received a lot of bad press when it first opened, at a time in Victorian London when it was deemed immoral to spend time and money helping ‘dumb’ animals when human beings were living in appalling conditions on the streets. And so it fell to Mary Tealby - a penniless divorcee dying of cancer – to try to remedy the situation through sheer perseverance. Help came in the form of Charles Dickens, who published an article in support of the Home called Two Dog Shows, comparing the forerunner of the Crufts dog show to what he had seen at The Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs
Attitudes began to change. Mary Tealby died in 1865, aged 64, but sadly little more is known about her. In 1871, the Home moved to its present site in Battersea, and was renamed The Dogs’ Home Battersea. The Home started taking in cats in 1883, following an individual donation of £500. 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 our current patron and has visited the Home on many occasions to open newly-built facilities and to offer her support and encouragement.
Background
Dogs are brought into the Home from two main sources – as strays from police stations and dog wardens all over the capital, and as ‘gifts to the home’ from people who are unable to care for their dog or cat any more.
Each dog or cat is given a number and a name and logged on our computer system. When a stray comes in, the owner has seven days to claim it and once that week has passed we begin the process of finding it a new home. Contrary to popular belief, there is no time limit on how long an animal can stay with us. As long as the animal is happy and healthy, we will care for it until the right home comes along.
Every dog is assessed to determine its temperament. The dog is analysed to determine its general behaviour, how it responds to cats and whether it is suitable for living with children. It is also given a thorough health check. Once all this is done, the dog is enters the rehoming kennel block ready to be viewed by the public.
Prospective new owners undertake an in-depth interview process so they can be advised on the type of dog or cat that would suit them best. The idea behind this is to find a healthy new environment for the animal so that both owner and pet are comfortable with the choice.
Battersea’s services…
Lost Dogs and Cats Line – 0901 477 8477
(Calls charged at 60p per minute)
In 2004 our Lost Dogs and Cats Line took 6,033 calls. Operators take details of where the dog or cat was last seen, what it looks like, its name and any distinguishing features. Our computer system then tries to match owners with strays who have entered the Home, or with strays reported to us from police stations around London.
Behaviour Hotline - 0905 020 0222
(calls cost 25p per minute)
Lines are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with messages taken at other times. By offering behavioural advice to owners we aim to reduce the number of dogs and cats brought to Battersea due to behavioural problems. The Hotline dealt with 3,067 calls in 2004 with problems such as housetraining, basic control and separation problems. However, aggression problems cannot be dealt with over the phone – in these cases a behaviourist is recommended for immediate contact. Call 0905 020 0222 or e-mail hotline@dogshome.org if you require any assistance or advice with your pet(s).
www.dogshome.org
Our website, www.dogshome.org, was launched in March 2002. The site is based around Battersea’s ‘Four Rs’: rescue, reunite, rehabilitate and rehome. Features include online reporting of a lost dog or cat to our Lost Dogs Line, downloadable Battersea leaflets, e-cards, screensavers and wallpaper to smarten up your PC. Our cyber shop provides a large range of stock, and for younger web visitors (or the young at heart!), our playtime pages have great games, dog and cat recipes, DIY toys and our unique dog coat knitting pattern.
Paws and Fantail magazines
Paws, the magazine for supporters of Battersea Dogs Home, is a quarterly publication sent to anyone who has rehomed a Battersea dog or cat. The magazine is packed with news on the Home, features on dogs, cats and pictures of ex-Battersea residents in their new homes. Paws also runs special features on doggy-related issues such as training and health.
Battersea United is the junior supporters’ club of Battersea Dogs Home. The club caters for 6 to 16 year olds and members receive a ‘filofax’ diary with their own membership card and a watch, as well as Fantail magazine three times a year.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if you are unable to find a dog a suitable home?
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.
Is it true that you put dogs to sleep after seven days?
Unfortunately, we do sometimes have to make the sad decision to put an animal to sleep but on serious health or behavioural grounds only, never because we are full or it is taking too long to find them a new home.
How many dogs and cats to you have at the moment?
Battersea Dogs Home has capacity for up to 500 dogs and 150 cats but usually has around 400 dogs and 100 cats on site.
How long do they usually stay with you?
The average stay for a dog at the Home is 24 days, and 21 for a cat – some stay a much longer time and some shorter.
Why are you called Battersea Dogs Home if you have cats as well?
Why don’t you change your name?
We’ve had cats here for over 100 years but we’ve always been known as Battersea Dogs Home! We haven’t changed our name yet because people know us so well as the Dogs Home.
How do I rehome a dog or cat?
You need to come to the Home for an interview with one of our rehomers, bringing your whole family with you, and we take it from there. For more information please look at our website at www.dogshome.org or call 020 7622 3626.
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