As any dog owner knows, there’s nothing that sets tails wagging more than spending a day with your four-pawed pals. And it’s no different at Canine Cottages HQ, so we were thrilled when our friends at Battersea invited us to spend the day with them at their centre in London.
The team at Battersea showed us around their incredible facilities and gave us some insight into the amount of expert care it takes to look after our furry friends in their time of need. They also shared their specialist knowledge with us by answering some questions about dog care.
Here’s what we got up to when we spent the day with Battersea.
Kennels
Our first port of call was the kennels where we met with Operations team member, Luana Lewis, who introduced us to some of Battersea’s canine residents,
Battersea ensures that all dogs receive the most appropriate care and attention before they move on to their new homes. Most will have their own kennel unless there’s a mum with her pups, or dogs that have come into the centre together and it’s best not to separate them.
Of course, caring for many different dogs, of all shapes and sizes, requires a lot of work. Thankfully, Battersea has both a dedicated team of expert staff and an army of volunteers, all making sure the dogs in their care have everything they need during their time at the centres. You can read more about some of Battersea’s volunteers on our Canine Champions blog.
In the kennels, Luana shows us how they keep track of all dog’s nutritional and medical needs. Each dog will have their own individual plan, which is tailored to their age, breed, condition and specific needs.
It takes a lot of coordination to care for these dogs, but Battersea has a great team!
What is it like to look after all these dogs? How do you keep track of them all?
Luana says: “At Battersea, we are passionate about making sure every animal that comes through our doors get the best care and support until we find them a new home. You can see a detailed plan of every dog’s feeding routine, which all of us here can use to make sure each animal is getting the right type of food in the right quantity. So, we measure the right type of food out for them, making sure to include any medication they might be on, and take it to them.”
Training
After visiting the kennels, we met with Canine Behaviourist Adele Tuttlebee, to learn more about Battersea’s training and enrichment activities.
The dogs that come through Battersea all have their own unique training and behavioural needs, spanning from toilet training, walking on lead and recall through to anxiety-related behaviours and guarding toys or food.
Battersea’s expert team of Canine Behaviourists work with each individual dog to create a personalised training plan, ensuring every dog has the best chance of being rehomed.
Separation anxiety is one of the most common issues that Battersea sees in the dogs coming into their centres. You can read more about how to help your dog with separation anxiety in our guide.
What kind of behavioural issues do you see a lot at Battersea?
Adele says: “We see a variety of behavioural issues at Battersea as we see dogs arrive from a variety of backgrounds. Some have never lived in a house and so aren’t toilet trained. Others may have come from quite isolated backgrounds, and struggle with bad separation anxiety or lack of socialisation. We take time to assess each dog’s specific needs, what they enjoy, what they struggle with, to make sure every dog gets the best support while at Battersea and once they leave us.”
Hydrotherapy
Now, we couldn’t visit Battersea without a trip to their hydrotherapy centre. This world-class facility boasts a 6m by 3m pool, resistance jets and an incredible underwater treadmill. It is still fairly new, having only been built in 2020, but it is now fully booked every day - with dogs who are temporarily living at Battersea as well as dogs owned by the public. The cost of any public sessions goes back into funding Battersea’s work – a real win-win for all dogs!
When we met with Battersea Senior Hydrotherapist Natalie Rutka, she explained that hydrotherapy can be beneficial for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Medical sessions can be incredibly advantageous for pre and post-operation. Battersea has even used the facility for cats in their care, ensuring that the rehabilitation process is smooth and comfortable as possible.
Much like a human swimming pool, Battersea’s hydrotherapy centre also offers fun sessions where the focus is on improving water confidence – but unlike your local leisure centre, these sessions are just for dogs! These sessions are a great way to mix up your dog’s routine to keep their brains and bodies active. Pet weight management sessions are available as a low impact way of helping your portly pups to shed a few pounds.
Battersea is incredibly proud of their state-of-the-art facility, which enhances the quality of life of dogs (and cats) in their centres and beyond.
What kind of conditions can hydrotherapy help with?
Natalie says: ‘Our hydrotherapy facilities are designed to help both our on-site animals as well as external clients. Hydrotherapy can be beneficial for surgical orthopaedic rehabilitation, as well as supporting neurological conditions, conservative management of orthopaedic conditions, general arthritis management and weight loss.
"In 2021, Battersea ran 663 hydrotherapy sessions in both the pool and underwater treadmill, each session specifically tailored to the patient’s individual requirements."
Clinic
Our final stop of the day was Battersea’s veterinary clinic, which is at the heart of the London centre. On-site Veterinary Nurse Michaela Vinales gave us a tour of the facilities, which includes a dental hospital, three operating theatres and intensive care units.
Battersea is one of the animal rescue centres to have a non-selective intake policy, meaning that they take in and care for every dog and cat regardless of age, breed, medical condition or behaviour history.
On arrival, each animal is given an individual assessment by Battersea’s expert veterinary team. Some animals will just need this simple check-up, but others will need complex treatment and surgery. In 2021, Battersea performed more than 2,700 operations, which equates to approximately 10 every weekday.
Of course, rest and relaxation are all part of the recovery process, and there are plenty of soundproofed wards that allow the dogs in Battersea’s care to get some peace and quiet, ensuring they’re back to their bouncy selves in no time!
What are the most common issues you see in the dogs you work with?
Michaela says: “We see a real range of conditions coming through our doors, so we need to be prepared for anything. We get a lot of flat-faced dogs who have difficulty with their breathing, particularly in hot weather. We know that these dogs will need extra clinic support and possibly an operation to get them healthy enough to rehome.”
After spending the day with Battersea at their dogs and cats home, we were blown away by the amount of effort and care that goes into caring for our four-legged friends and helping them find the forever homes they deserve.
Supporting Battersea
At Canine Cottages, we’re proud of our relationship with Battersea. Built on shared values, our partnership allows us to support Battersea in their incredible work being there for every dog (and cat). We’re a proud sponsor of The Battersea Way pet advice emails – you can sign up for the emails here, or donate to Battersea and help make a difference to the animals in their care. Or, why not treat your dog to a well-deserved holiday by browsing our dog-friendly cottages below.
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please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.