| Type | Charity |
|---|---|
| Industry | Animal welfare |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Website | Official website |
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.
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Formerly the 'Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs', it was established in Holloway 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.[1] 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).[2]
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.[3] 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.
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, Berkshire and Brands Hatch, Kent.
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 AGM every June.
The Home receives no government funding and is run almost entirely on donations from the public.