A national institution, everybody's heard of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, but how much do you really know? Julia Rebaudo gives a potted history

Rehoming up to 5,000 dogs and 3,000 cats each year, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home started back in 1860 when Mrs Mary Tealby opened the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs in Holloway, North London. In 1871 the Temporary Home was relocated to its current premises in Battersea. It wasn’t until 1883 that the first cats arrived.

By 1895 the Home was using 32 tons of biscuits, 420 gallons of milk and receiving 36,873 visitors a year. In 1898 the Home’s first country site was opened in Hackbridge, Surrey by the Duke and Duchess of Portland. And in 1904 the Home started opening on Sundays. By 1909 two motor vans and six horse-drawn vans were rescuing strays from the streets of London and in 1911 the Home started collecting stray dogs from London police stations.

1914 saw 100 sledge dogs housed at the Hackbridge site, in preparation for Ernest Shackelton’s second Antarctic expedition. And in 1918, Airedale Jack, a Battersea dog trained at the War Dog School, died in France on the front line after delivering a plea for reinforcements. The battalion was saved and Jack was awarded a posthumous VC.

In 1934 the country Hackbridge site was sold and a new home opened in Bow, East London. In 1956 Queen Elizabeth II became patron and in 1970 Beaufort Kennels was opened. 1979 saw the acquisition of Bell Mead Kennels in Windsor. And in 1984 Prince Michael of Kent became President of the Home and the first full-time veterinary surgeon was employed. That same year also saw the arrival of 20,000 dogs and 870 cats.

In 1991 behavioural assessment for dogs were introduced and in 1995 the Rehabilitation Department was introduced with the arrival of 9,000 dogs and 1,602 cats. In 1998 the BBC start filming documentary series and in 2000 the Lost Dogs Line was launched.

These days there are three centres: in Battersea, Old Windsor and Brands Hatch (near the racing circuit in Kent). Lost dogs are accepted at anytime day or night, but you must telephone 020 7622 3626 before bringing in a kitten or cat. If you would like to provide a home for a cat or dog you will need to go to the centre for an interview.

Ask the Experts Week
This week (25 – 29 September) the first ever ‘Ask the Experts Week’ is being held. If you have any questions about getting a cat or dog or are after some advice for your current pet then call 020 7627 7898 or email asktheexperts@dogshome.org

Discover Dogs
If you’re thinking about providing a home for a Battersea dog, then why not go along to the Discover Dogs day on 11 November where you meet more than 180 different breeds of pedigree dogs.

Kennel Enrichment
And believe it or not the Home is also after old perfumes and essential oils to introduce different aromas into the kennels to keep the dogs motivated and feel like they're in a home environment. So if you have any unwanted smellies either send or drop the parcels marked 'Kennel Enrichment' to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, 4 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4AA or at either the Old Windsor or Brands Hatch sites.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
4 Battersea Park Road
London
SW8 4AA
www.dogshome.org
Tel: 020 7622 3626
Fax: 020 7622 645

Opening Times Rehoming: Monday to Friday 1pm-4pm.
Weekends and Bank Holidays 10.30am-4pm
Claim a lost pet: 10.30am to 4pm
Shop: 10.30am to 4pm
Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day, Good Friday (Easter) and on other occasional days during the year.