One for the Dogs...and Cats: Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

Today, I visited a magical place. A place of hope and love, a place to help me reconnect with my centre, a place called the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. (It's been a hard month y'all, I needed to touch some puppies)

The Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs was opened in Holloway, London by Mrs. Mary Tealby in 1860. It was soon after moved to its present location in Battersea (beside the Battersea Power Station) in 1871 due to complains of noise and smell coming from the facilities. In 1883, the Home began to accept cats as well. During the First World War the Home housed over 26,000 dogs and 2,000 cats belonging to soldiers on active duty. They even have had both Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II as patrons.

The Home has been around for over 150 years and are still going strong.  The week I visited it was half term and they were providing free tours of the facilities  during their open hours. There was a small donation fee to visit the dogs and cats, but it was totally worth it. 

I had a great afternoon there, getting a snack at the cafe, visiting the animals in the kennels and cattery and being entertained with a small agility show.

This was a former stray Lurcher Cross named Gerald. He is a puppy and  still being socialized but I got to say hello to him; he had the softest coat, like a duckling's down. 

This seems to be a fantastic facility where the staff take their roles as care givers to these animals very seriously and are determined to find a home or job for each and every animal. Having adopted my pup from a Humane Society and lucked out with such a great girl, this place and the work these people do have a special place in my heart.

This lovely boy's named Hudson. Dogs at the home will stay an average of 38 days there before being rehomed. The aim of the Dogs and Cats Home is to never turn away a dog or cat in need; reuniting them with their owners when lost and rehoming them when a new permanent home is needed.

But seriously, just look at this face!

Check out their new campaign: "Staffies; They're softer than you think"


P.S. This is not a sponsored post. All the opinions expressed are my own. I just really enjoyed my time here and think you should visit your local shelter too. It's a great stress reliever...but only if you like animals.

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