News from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Read about what we've been up to recently.

• Battersea Streak
• Ozzy the Bull Terrier Reunited with his Owner after a Year
• The Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act
• Battersea dog is a TV star!
• People With Dogs Project

Battersea Streak

During the month of May, female staff and some of their dogs, at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have come up with an eye catching and novel way of raising funds and awareness for all the lost and abandoned dogs and cats that come into their care; they're streaking their hair blue.

Last year, the male staff grew their beards for six itchy weeks and raised over £5,000 for beds, toys and other essentials for the animals, and the ladies are hoping to beat the boys and raise even more.

Fiona Healey Hutchinson, Director of Fundraising, said, "Streaking our hair in our signature 'Battersea Blue' has been great fun and loads of staff have taken part. We hope to raise lots of money and beat the boys in the process. The lucky winner who raises the most funds will get a cut and blow dry from hairdresser to the stars, Nicky Clarke. It's a great incentive to get that sponsorship rolling in."

If you would like to sponsor a member of Battersea's staff to dye her hair, please contact the Fundraising Department on 0870 890 0000 or email fundraising@dogshome.org

Ozzy the Bull Terrier Reunited with his Owner after a Year

Ben Dalby from Chelmsford was devastated when his English Bull Terrier, Ozzy, went missing from his garden in April 2007. Nearly a year to the day, he's been reunited with Ozzy thanks to the detective work of staff from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Lost Dogs & Cats Line, and the missing pet website, Dog Lost.

The dog was brought into Battersea from Romford and despite being microchipped, it proved impossible to get hold of the owner. A member of staff decided to take a look at some missing pet websites and was thrilled when she spotted Ozzy on www.doglost.co.uk. However, his owner still proved allusive and it was down to the initiative of Dog Lost staff that Ben was eventually tracked down via the social networking site, Facebook.

Ben was thrilled to hear that Ozzy was at Battersea and rushed down to the Home to be reunited with his dog today, saying, "Thanks to Battersea's and Dog Lost's detective work, I've got Ozzy back and I'm over the moon. Little does he know that he's got a new playmate at home, Lola the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, but I'm sure they'll get on great."

Simon Lynn, Battersea's Head of Rehoming, said "Despite a few problems in this case, we would recommend microchipping as the best way to ensure you are reunited with your pet if it goes missing. It's such a simple and quick procedure which causes no pain to the animal so it really is worth doing. Remember to keep your contact details up to date if you move or change telephone numbers too".

If your dog or cat does go missing, you should contact your local authority and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Lost Dogs & Cats Line on 0901 477 8477 (calls cost 60p per minute from a BT landline, other networks may vary). The service is available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and uses a database of missing pets and strays that have come in to Battersea, to try and reunite owners with their animals.

The Clean Neighbourhoods & Environment Act

After many years of taking in London's waif and stray dogs, the Metropolitan Police Service across London is finally closing its doors to lost and unwanted dogs and passing over the responsibility to local authorities under the terms of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act (CNE Act) 2005.

From the 6th of April 2008, if you find a stray dog you should first contact your local authority Animal Warden. Many local authorities will be operating a 24 hour service, and some will be providing designated reception points to which a stray dog can be taken.

Scott Craddock, Director of Operations at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said, "We are working with a number of London boroughs to urge local residents to contact their local Animal Warden, and where possible take any stray dog they have found to their local reception point or directly to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Last year we reunited over 3,500 lost animals with their owners and we can only continue to do so if people let us know if they have found or lost a dog or cat."

If your dog or cat does go missing, you should contact your local authority and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Lost Dogs and Cats Line on 0901 477 8477 (calls cost 60p per minute, other networks may vary). The service is available seven days a week from 8am to 8pm and uses a database of missing pets and strays that have come in to Battersea, to try and reunite owners with their animals.


London Boroughs covered by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

Bromley 020 8313 4830
Ealing 020 8825 6000
Enfield 020 8379 1000
Hammersmith and Fulham 020 8753 1081
Harrow 020 8863 5611
Kensington and Chelsea 020 7361 3002
Lambeth 020 7926 8873
Lewisham 020 8314 2098
Merton 020 8545 4118
Redbridge 020 8554 5000
Southwark 020 7525 5777
Waltham Forest 020 8496 3000
Wandsworth 020 8871 7532
Westminster 020 7641 2000

Battersea dog is a TV star!

Tune in to Animal Planet from Friday 14th March at 8pm to see Battersea's resident Dog Groomer, Jacquelina Prescott, and her Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross, Tippy Toes, battle it out to win the title of Europe's Mightiest Mutt 2008.

Back for a brand new second series, this time with a European twist. Contestants and their dogs representing an array of European countries from Germany and the Czech Republic, to Wales and England battle it out to win the coveted title.

Presented by dog lover Shauna Lowry, this show celebrated doggie happiness in all its forms, great characters, good training and temperament. It is about the love and fun that comes from owning a dog, and the personalities and talents of the dogs themselves.

Doggie contestants compete against each other in a series of outlandish rounds. These include the Doggy Detective round, Musical Mutts and of course the butcher Mr Hogg is back with his tasty treats in Temptation Ally. The winning pooch goes through to the next round until the grand final when viewers can see who will emerge a canine hero, the Top Dog of Europe.

Top Dog premieres exclusively on Animal Planet from Friday 14th March at 8.00pm.

For more information go to www.animalplanet.co.uk.

People With Dogs Project

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has joined forces with The Blue Cross, RSPCA, Greater London Authority, the Metropolitan Police and Wandsworth Council to launch the 'People With Dogs Project' a new scheme aimed at reducing intimidating and anti-social behaviour with dogs on London's streets.

A gritty short film has been produced as part of an educational pack which explores the issues surrounding dog ownership. The educational pack includes a workshop that explores the topics raised in the film, such as irresponsible dog breeding, inappropriate exercise areas and organised dog fighting. It also includes a moving interview with Londoner Mike Ebberson who was seriously injured while trying to save his own dog from being attacked, and eventually killed, by aggressive dogs left off the lead in a London park last year

The film is targeted specifically at young people and fronted by popular Brixton MC Wordsmith, a keen dog lover.

Mark Callis, Senior Dog Warden at Wandsworth Council and spokesman for the People With Dogs Project, said: "Too many young people are getting a dog as a status symbol, without the knowledge of how to handle and care for an animal. It's a common sight in London to see kids hanging out on street corners with dogs and their behaviour can be very intimidating. We hope to influence young people by asking them to think about the impact of this behaviour and the responsibilities of dog ownership."

The People With Dogs Project is supported by the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, who added: "I am committed to making the streets of London a safer place for everyone, and this includes tackling the problem of anti-social behaviour with dogs. The scheme launched today has my full support as it aims to strike at the heart of the problem, teaching and educating young Londoners how to behave responsibly with their pets."

To request a copy of the eductional pack email People With Dogs Project