A dog's life Print E-mail
Written by Hermione Edwards, 2006   
Page 1 of 2
Hermione Edwards prepares to have her heartstrings tugged as she goes behind the scenes at Battersea Dog’s Home

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home hit the headlines last year when Red the Lurcher was caught on camera opening his friend’s cages, before rampaging with them around the food store. His actions provoked media frenzy; the canine Houdini gave scores of ‘interviews’ and Battersea was inundated with requests to adopt the feisty character.

An amusing story, but Red’s actions were also hugely beneficial to the Home as they thrust it into the spotlight and publicised its work. Battersea is one of many animal rescue organisations in Britain, constantly packed with dogs and cats and reliant on donations from the public to fund its substantial running costs.

Founded in 1860 by Mrs Mary Tealby, Battersea was set up to house the overwhelming number of stray dogs and cats roaming the streets of Victorian London. She encountered much opposition at the time as many felt that money should be spent on people living in appalling conditions rather than animals, but her determination won through and Battersea has been one of Britain’s most famous institutions ever since.

No history

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A kennel at Battersea Dogs Home
Each year thousands of pets are abandoned, run away or are given to a rescue home when the owners can no longer care for them. If they are given away then something of their history is known, but the majority are found roaming the streets and are picked up by the police (with whom Battersea have a ‘stray’ contract). Reuniting lost dogs with their owners is one of Battersea’s key focuses, but this is not well-known, and the Lost Dogs and Cats Line should be the first port of call for anyone missing a pet or who has found a stray.

Once in the Home the animal spends seven days waiting to be claimed; if not, it will either join others waiting to find a suitable owner or, if necessary, will spend time in the rehabilitation centre. Amongst animal rescue organisations Battersea is unique in that it will receive any dog or cat, even if other rescue centres have refused the animal. As Jess Kidman, Rehoming Supervisor says: “Our non-select policy means that, as an organisation, we have a lot of extra work because we care for many aggressive dogs that cannot be rehomed.”

An important part of the work done at Battersea is rehabilitation, since many dogs arrive in a state of severe shock or depression, often with terrible habits – the canine equivalents of juvenile delinquents. However, no challenge is too great for the team in the specialist rehabilitation department who work miracles with unruly mutts. Future owners must maintain their hard work and this is where Battersea’s strict rehoming policy is key.

Rigorous screening

Prior to visiting I had heard that adopting a dog was harder than adopting a baby, and the selection process is undeniably rigorous. Before walking round the kennels and falling in love with a potential pet, you are interviewed to assess your suitability as an owner and to establish what type of dog or cat would be appropriate for you. There’s no point in deciding you can’t live without Timber the German Shepherd if you live in a one-bedroom flat in central London and work full-time. Each case is treated individually and there are no hard-and-fast rules as to who can or can’t adopt.

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There's still as much need today for animal rescue organisations as there was in Victorian times
One of the major problems facing the rehoming staff is that visitors seldom know much about specific breeds and prejudices tend to run deep. People are often reluctant to adopt Staffies (Staffordshire bull terriers) because of their reputation for viciousness, but conversely many think small terriers make cute lapdogs when they are almost always more of a handful. Inevitably, puppies get snapped up straight away, and the smaller breeds are always very popular, even more so lately due to the celebrity trend of having a dog in your handbag!

Many large dogs ideally suited to the country end up in Battersea, which can be a problem for the rehoming staff as the majority of visitors are London-based. Battersea does, however, have two rural centres: Brands Hatch in Kent and Old Windsor in Berkshire. Battersea is only one of many animal charities operating in the UK. They all have adoption centres spread around the country, often in rural areas where the animals can live in large, open spaces.

Busy weekend

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Line-up at Battersea: The Usual Suspects
I wander around the Battersea kennels on a Monday morning to find several empty after the weekend – the Home’s busiest time. Some of the disappointed faces of those not chosen seem to say: “It’s a waste of my time flirting with you because it just doesn’t work.” In fact, one of my main concerns had been how long the animals stay, but a helpful notice form attached to each kennel reveals this. I saw that most rarely reside in the Home for more than a few months.

Additional information about each animal is provided, such as whether the dog likes cats, needs lots of training or has the potential to be destructive. I chuckled as I walked past Ronnie (named after the late comedian Mr Barker) who “can be vocal”; I came across Jack, who “tends to let his natural instincts take over”. Chloe, an amusingly named Doberman, has been in rehab for a year, and, her form assured me, is now well and truly over her”chase” issues.


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