The staff at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have been finding loving new homes for beloved pets for 160 years and are dedicated to caring for every dog (and every cat too, but we’re sure they’ll forgive us for not talking about them!). A lot of love and care goes into doing what’s best for these amazing animals, so let’s take a look at what happens on the journey to a loving new home.
Settling in
When an animal arrives at one of the three Battersea rescue centres, dedicated staff help them to settle in, get to know their individual quirks and habits, shower them with love and attention (if that’s what they like) and then do everything they can to find the best possible home for them. As well as state-of-the-art kennels, there are grooming rooms, grassy paddocks, chill-out spaces and even a hydrotherapy pool waiting for the dogs who arrive. But first, they are settled into their own kennel spaces with any bedding or toys that might have been brought in with them, or any other blankets and beds they need.
Let the experts handle it
Every dog that arrives at a Battersea centre is checked over by a member of the veterinary team and spends time with behaviourists to assess their personality and identify any gaps in training or areas they might need some help. Expert staff take the time to get to know each dog, understand their individual needs, likes and dislikes, and get a sense of how they feel about other animals and people. Dogs are worked with in a variety of situations to help staff understand what type of home and lifestyle might suit them. This can include spending time with other dogs, meeting strangers, seeing how they react around food and toys, and also going through vet checks and other types of handling.
Love, care and attention
Enrichment activities help to ease any potential stress, and dogs at Battersea have access to all sorts of activities, including daily walks, social interaction with both people and other dogs (if that’s what they enjoy), food games (using toys such as Kongs, boxes, food puzzles etc.) and opportunities for sensory stimulation such as relaxing music and scent work.
If dogs are feeling particularly stressed in a kennel environment they will spend time in a home environment, thanks to a brilliant network of dedicated foster carers. Dogs at Battersea are walked multiple times a day and given lots of opportunities for training and socialisation. Battersea also has dedicated grooming rooms where dogs are given a bath and some pampering. Some dogs are less sure about this so staff take the time to work with them and build up their confidence slowly but surely. This is also an opportunity for quality time with dogs and kennel staff.
When it’s time to go home
All dogs go to their new homes neutered, microchipped, and with up-to-date vaccinations and flea and worm treatment. By the time dogs are ready to be rehomed, they will have their own profile, built by all the staff who’ve cared for them, which provides potential new owners with details about their character, and their quirks, and the type of home and lifestyle that will suit their needs. Battersea rehoming staff talk to potential new owners at length to make sure that a new home is right for each dog. They ask about their home environment and lifestyle and go the extra mile to make sure that each dog is matched with the right loving new home.
And Battersea’s support doesn’t stop there. Staff offer ongoing advice and guidance to new owners, and there’s also a wealth of helpful information available on the pet advice pages of the Battersea website, their YouTube channel and through The Battersea Way advice emails.
Here at Canine Cottages, we’re proud to be sponsoring Battersea’s pet advice email series, helping owners everywhere give their pets the best care possible, with everything from behaviour tips and training advice to DIY pet-friendly recipes straight to their inbox.
Dog-friendly holiday cottages
Thinking about going away? Browse the Canine Cottages collection of dog-friendly UK retreats that any Battersea rescue dog would be happy to call home.
Canine Care
For even more inspiration, read all the Canine Care blogs about enjoying life with your dogs. Read about helping your pet with recall training, separation anxiety, rescue dog success stories, doggy first aid skills, and more.
Canine Cottages and Battersea
Canine Cottages and Battersea are teaming up to form a partnership built on shared values, allowing Canine Cottages to support Battersea in its incredible work, ensuring our beloved dogs have all the love and attention they deserve.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.