Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Encyclopedia
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 over £12.2 million in 2009.
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. 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).
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. 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.
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
.
every June.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
oldest and most famous home for dogs and cats and is situated in the Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
area of London, England. It is financed by voluntary donations with an income of over £12.2 million in 2009.
History
Formerly the 'Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs', it was established in HollowayHolloway, London
Holloway is an inner-city district in the London Borough of Islington located north of Charing Cross and follows for the most part, the line of the Holloway Road . At the centre of Holloway is the Nag's Head area...
in 1860 by Mrs Mary Tealby. The home moved to Battersea in 1871 opposite Battersea Park
Battersea Park
Battersea Park is a 200 acre green space at Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth in England. It is situated on the south bank of the River Thames opposite Chelsea, and was opened in 1858....
and has a view of the iconic Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
.
In 1885, Her Majesty Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
became Patron of the Home, and it has remained under Royal Patronage ever since. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
is the Patron. Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent is a grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, making him a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. He is also the first cousin once removed of Prince Phillip. Prince Michael occasionally carries out royal duties representing the Queen at some functions in Commonwealth realms outside...
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).
To mark its 150th anniversary in 2010, the Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
released a set of stamps featuring a series of dogs and cats that had been adopted by staff. 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.
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 2009, the Home cared for 10, 600 dogs and cats.In addition to the site in South West London, the Home also has two other centres based at Old Windsor
Old Windsor
Old Windsor is a large village and civil parish in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-Location:...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
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 AGMAnnual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
every June.
Funding
The Home receives no government funding and is run almost entirely on donations from the public.See also
- The Blue CrossThe Blue CrossThe Blue Cross is a registered animal welfare charity in the United Kingdom, founded in 1897 as Our Dumb Friends League. The charity provides support for pet owners who cannot afford private veterinary treatment, helps to find homes for unwanted animals, and educates the public in the...
- Dogs TrustDogs TrustDogs Trust, formerly known as the National Canine Defence League, is an animal welfare charity and humane society in the United Kingdom which specialises in the wellbeing of dogs. The charity rehabilitates and finds new homes for dogs which have been abandoned or given up by their owners...
- National Animal Welfare TrustNational Animal Welfare TrustThe National Animal Welfare Trust is a animal welfare charity founded in 1971, which operates no-kill rescue centres for animals and birds. It currently has branches in Watford, Berkshire, Essex, Somerset and Cornwall; and caters for a variety of animals, both pets and wildlife...
- PDSAPDSAThe People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor...
- DogsBlog.comDogsBlog.comDogsBlog.com is a dog rescue website founded by Ryan O'Meara and Kim Bruce, and set up by K9 Media Ltd. It was launched in January 2007, and has since found new homes for over 6,700 dogs via the website which provides a free service for 212 different rescue shelters.-Milestones and...
- Humane Society of the United StatesHumane Society of the United StatesThe Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
- Women and animal advocacyWomen and animal advocacySeveral writers have argued that the animal advocacy movement — embracing animal rights, animal welfare, and anti-vivisectionism — has been disproportionately initiated and led by women....