“FAWC has played an essential role in the way the Government thinks about farm animal welfare and has succeeded in challenging both the Government and the farming industry on matters of huge importance, such as dairy cow welfare.
 
“We would be very concerned if this move indicated a downgrading of the importance of farm animal welfare, especially in the current economic climate, which will be pushing farmers to drive down costs on farm. We will be watching the development of the committee of experts with interest.
 
“The BVA is pleased to see the retention of the Veterinary Products Committee, which performs a vital function in veterinary medicine regulation, and the Science Advisory Committee, which provides expert, independent advice to Defra on science policy and strategy.” ]]> http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6354/government-cuts-must-not-harm-animal-welfare-warn-vets/feed/ 0 http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6352/charity-seeks-to-expand-dog-breed-diversity/ http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6352/charity-seeks-to-expand-dog-breed-diversity/#comments Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:32:01 +0000 K9 Magazine Web Editor http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6352/charity-seeks-to-expand-dog-breed-diversity/
Continue Reading »]]> Dogs for the Disabled has announced their desire to increase the number of dog breeds they work with this week with the appointment of Helen Freeman who has been recruited to help the charity with dog supply.

Helen, who has worked at Guide Dogs for nearly 20 years and whose father Derek Freeman was awarded an MBE for his work with the charity, will be responsible for looking after Dogs for the Disabled’s own small breeding programme and sourcing suitable puppies to become the assistance dogs of the future.

Said Helen: “Joining Dogs for the Disabled right now seems a very exciting prospect.  The charity has grown its services in the last few years and plans to continue to do so.  My challenge will be to find the right sort of puppies and dogs to help a really diverse group of people with many different needs.  The charity trains dogs for children and adults with a wide variety of different physical disabilities and their more recent work helps children with autism.”

Currently, Dogs for the Disabled uses mainly Labradors and golden retrievers, as well as first crosses of the two to carry out its work.  Helen explains: “Labradors and golden retrievers undoubtedly have a lot of advantages for doing the work we ask of them.  Their size and strong retrieve instincts make them ideal for helping people with physical disabilities with tasks such as picking up dropped items or using their paws to push buttons or open and close doors.  While I have no doubt that these dogs will remain our core breeds, I hope that over time we will be able to introduce a wider range of breeds to become suitable assistance dogs.”

Dogs for the Disabled’s national training centre is now based in Banbury, Oxfordshire, but Helen’s associations with the charity go back to much earlier days when the charity was just beginning.  Helen's original family home was a bungalow at Guide Dogs’ Tollgate centre and on the family’s departure in 1987 the bungalow soon became one of Dogs for the Disabled’s first training offices!  ]]> http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6352/charity-seeks-to-expand-dog-breed-diversity/feed/ 0 http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6204/defra-call-for-voluntary-food-labelling-not-enough-says-bva/ http://www.dogmagazine.net/archives/6204/defra-call-for-voluntary-food-labelling-not-enough-says-bva/#comments Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:28:33 +0000 Jennifer White http://www.dogmagazine.net/?p=6204
Continue Reading »]]> Responding to Defra Minister Jim Paice MP’s call for voluntary country of origin labelling, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has renewed its call for clearer animal welfare labelling across the EU.

Mr Paice called on the British food industry to improve its country of origin food labelling voluntarily following a European Parliament vote in favour of new compulsory country of origin labelling in June. The European Parliament wants meat labels to indicate where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered, and for meat from slaughter without stunning (according to certain religious traditions) to be labelled as such. The BVA welcomed the European Parliament vote.

The BVA is calling for one clear EU-wide welfare label that takes into account the welfare of animals use in food production from birth to slaughter, including the production system, transport and method of slaughter.

Commenting, Harvey Locke, President-Elect of the BVA, said:

“While we understand the Minister’s desire for labelling to be voluntary, we believe that the current voluntary labelling system is confusing for consumers.

“Country of origin labelling should include information on where the animal was born, reared and slaughtered. Many consumers consider British meat to be of a higher welfare standard, but buying British doesn’t always mean the animal was born, reared and slaughtered in this country.

“The BVA is calling for one clear welfare label that consumers can trust.

“The BVA also supports the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without being pre-stunned. Animals that are not pre-stunned suffer lower welfare at slaughter, yet meat from these animals enters the mainstream food chain without being labelled.

“Consumers want higher welfare standards and should be given the tools to make informed choices. Voluntary labelling is not enough.”

The members of the SWAP team regularly compile and distribute emergency email appeals for dogs on death row across the UK. They give their own account of the dire situation:

The computer goes on, the emails download and already there are four appeals for dogs on death row, fourteen dogs in total, thirteen of which are Staffordshire Bull Terriers commonly referred to as ‘Staffies’. These desperate dogs are only days away from death, often perfectly healthy, friendly, loving little beings who for one reason or another have ended up in a dog pound, abandoned or discarded by their owners. Now in their last few living hours all they can do is await their fate, will they be saved, or will their anxious barks be silenced, their wagging tails be stilled by the harrowing lethal injection?

With not a moment to lose, we immediately set to work, piecing together a special email appeal for the first group of dogs. The details of each individual have been listed, now we insert the photos, this is always the most emotionally challenging task, the desperate faces haunt you, their begging, mournful eyes staring back at you from the computer screen almost piercing your heart, each face crying out “please don’t let me die!”

Eleven of the fourteen dogs are less than three and a half years old, one of these being a six to nine month old pup.

The appeal will go out across the network to our supporters in the UK, a number of these being rescue centres or independent rescue workers. All we can do now is anxiously await the response.

The lives of these fourteen dogs are now depending on the efforts of the animal lovers across the country receiving our appeals. There are so many caring hard-working individuals who endeavour to save dogs like these every day, many of these ‘unsung heroes’ have full-time jobs and dedicate the few spare hours they have voluntarily, rescuing and transporting unwanted dogs from pounds to a safe haven, some will even place dogs in private kennels and pay the boarding fees out of their own pockets if this means keeping the dogs alive, often putting themselves in debt.

Dedicated rescue charities and organizations are working tirelessly on a daily basis to prevent unwanted dogs from being killed. ‘Doris Banham Dog Rescue’ (Registered Charity: 1103372, Website: www.dogsos.co.uk ) is one such amazing charity and was featured in the recent Panorama programme.

We have put out many appeals over the past three years on behalf of Doris Banham for some of the many thousands of dogs they have painstakingly saved from death row. The team at Doris Banham do incredible work for dogs in dog
pounds that face imminent death.

Paul N Davis, Trustee for Doris Banham describes the work that they do, “In the last 4 years Doris Banham Dog Rescue have saved over 10,000 dogs from being put to sleep in dog council pounds in the UK. These dogs were rehomed
direct by their Charity or placed by them into other approved non-destruct rescues who found the dogs the loving homes they deserved. Every dog is awarded full rescue back up by the Charity to give them the best ever chance
in life. This includes vaccinations, veterinary treatment, training, neutering, microchipping, homechecks and a safe place to come back to should circumstances change in their new home. 10,000 dogs that would have otherwise died unloved in the past 4 years have now been given a new start in life”.

Most rescue shelters depend heavily on volunteers, fundraising and donations to enable them to carry out their vital life-saving work and many are struggling to survive in today’s current financial climate, others have already sadly perished. For those rescues that have managed to stay afloat, the workload is excruciating, kennels are constantly full, no sooner than one becomes vacant another unwanted dog will arrive and fill the space.

The simple, heart-rending truth is there just aren’t enough rescue spaces across the UK to accommodate the countless numbers of unwanted dogs in need and so thousands of healthy and often young dogs are put to sleep every year. The situation is now dire and needs to be addressed.

Over breeding, irresponsible dog ownership and extortionate vets fees are all to blame.

Over breeding is by far the most serious problem. We despair at the amount of people who insist on buying dogs from breeders, puppy farms the internet etc. while thousands of unwanted dogs are waiting desperately in rescue kennels for loving homes and thousands more are being euthanized. The slogan “Don’t Breed or Buy While Homeless Dogs Die” is commonly used by animal shelters around the world and it speaks volumes. We urge anyone thinking of taking on a dog to please adopt one from a reputable rescue instead of buying a dog from a breeder, puppy farm etc. If every prospective dog owner was to do this, then the numbers of unwanted dogs in the UK would fall dramatically.

Spaying and neutering is also an essential means to reducing the numbers of unwanted dogs. All dog owners should have their pet spayed or neutered, this will prevent any accidental litters. Most reputable rescue organizations will spay or neuter before rehoming a dog, however, some smaller charities don’t always have the funds to do this but they will always recommend to the new owner that this is done.

Dog breeders, be they commercial or independent will of course not consider spaying or neutering as they will continue to breed dogs as a means to make a fast buck, so it is up to the members of the public to refrain from supporting these breeders and adopt a dog from a rescue centre instead.

Puppy farms and dog breeders across the UK are churning out dogs at an alarming rate. Many of these seedy and often ‘elusive’ establishments keep their dogs in appalling conditions and it is not uncommon for puppies from these places to be found in a poor state of health.

Breeding bitches are forced to produce litter after litter until they become exhausted and even disfigured in some cases. We have put out appeals for some female dogs that have been used so often for breeding that their delicate teats have become inflamed and enlarged to the point where they are dragging along the ground. It is heart breaking to witness such abuse.

It is now the responsibility of the government to take serious measures to stop all the over breeding in this country, as this is by far the biggest contributing factor to the escalating problem of so many unwanted dogs. The general public can also help by lobbying the government, writing to David Cameron and their own local MP’s urging them to take the necessary measures to stop the appalling and unforgivable carnage of thousands of dogs in the UK.

We feel that vets are also partly to blame for people abandoning their dogs. It is inconceivable to think that some people might be willing to give up their dog before giving up their X-box or DVD player, but sadly this is the attitude of some people. Exorbitant vets fees are not helping the situation. If a dog becomes sick then some less committed dog owners are tempted into giving up their pet when faced with the vet’s bill. The current recession has placed the security of the household pet on even shakier ground. How many sick animals are being neglected and left to suffer because
some penny-pinching individuals are unwilling to pay extortionate prices for treatment? It is the responsibility of the vets to reduce their fees which will encourage owners to keep and look after their animals properly.

Many dogs end up in rescues, pounds etc due to dog owner’s lack of foresight and lack of commitment. If people were to think more seriously before taking on a dog then this occurrence could be avoided.

Owning a dog is a huge responsibility and although the rewards of adopting a furry friend are immeasurable, there are several important points to consider before adopting a dog.

Financially, can you afford to pay for food, vets fees etc? Work and social commitments also need to be taken into consideration, a dog is a pack animal and so should not be left on its own for long periods of time as this would cause distress and anxiety.

Are you planning to move or change jobs in the near future? If so, then the dog’s needs would have to be considered and your lifestyle adapted to fit in with these needs.

Too often we hear of cases where couples have split up or moved house and as a result of these changes have decided to get rid of their dog, this is immoral and unacceptable, would these people give up their children under the same circumstances? It is extremely unlikely, so why is it deemed acceptable to give up their dog? Once a dog becomes a member of your family, it should remain so for life. To quote the words of ‘Dogs Trust’, the largest dog welfare charity in the UK “A dog is for life, not just for Christmas”.

Sadly the ‘Staffie’ is far too often becoming a common resident in dog pounds and rescue centres.

This friendly, loyal breed has become the victim of many macho would-be ‘hard men’ of today’s society who are often using these dogs as a status symbol, a tool to boost their inflated, ambitious egos, the innocent Staffie, totally oblivious to its owner’s motives. These low-life thugs will disown their dog at the drop of a hat as soon as it is deemed as an inconvenience. Sadly, these unwholesome individuals have created a bad image for the Staffies in the eyes of the general public, this is a tragedy as these special dogs make wonderful, loyal, family pets as any Staffie rescue will tell you.

The Greyhound is another greatly exploited breed. Tens of thousands of these placid gentle-natured dogs are bred every year to supply the commercial racing industry. Thousands of these dogs are killed at the end of their
racing career, usually at the tender age of three or four years and countless more are either abandoned on the streets and picked up as strays or end up in rescues, all adding to the extremely overwhelming unwanted dog population.

There is no end to the amount of suffering that dogs in our society are being forced to endure. These living, breathing, loyal sentient beings have been ultimately betrayed by us. Mahatma Gandhi once said “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the ways its animals are treated”. It would seem Britain is not so ‘Great’ after all, we have become a nation of convenience and throwaway ‘junkies’, self orientated and motivated by greed, this together with a lack of compassion has led to devastating consequences for our so-called ‘best friend’. Britain has become a nation of dog killers!

For further details please email  southwestanimalprotection@yahoo.co.uk

On March 5th Mrs Freeman was walking her 6 year old Airedale Terrier, Bessie in Ruislip, London when the attack happened. The Daily Mail has reported that the German Shepherd was staying in the home and in the care of Supt Pendry at the time.

The newspaper reports that Mrs Freeman said: ‘Suddenly I heard a woman’s voice shouting,’ she said. ‘Then I spotted a huge German Shepherd running towards my dog, who was rooted to the spot in terror.

‘The German Shepherd jumped on Bassie and started biting her in the belly. The woman came running up and rugby tackled the German Shepherd to the floor.

‘I asked the woman if she was alright and she told me to “just go”. Virginia managed to escape with Bessie who needed veterinary treatment and 12 stitches to stop the bleeding.

Mrs Freeman contacted the police with regards to Supt Pendry and for breaching the Dangerous Dogs Act, under which it is a criminal offence for a dog to be ‘dangerously out of control in a public place’. It has also been reported that Mrs Freeman complained to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, arguing that Supt Pendry had been protected due to her rank, however this was rejected.

Mrs Freeman has said that she never received an apology from Supt Pendry, however the Met Police has covered the vets bills.

Supt Pendry is responsible for the Met’s status dogs unit, and has in relation to her job role has quoted:

‘Owners have a responsibility to keep their dogs under control.’

‘It would be absolutely fantastic’ to kill the thousands of illegal breed, dangerous dogs confiscated by police.’

A Met spokesman said Supt Pendry was acting in a personal capacity at the time of the incident.

‘She apologised to Mrs Freeman immediately, but was not aware at the time that the dog was injured. When this was brought to her attention, she offered to make a contribution towards the vet’s bill.

‘Whenever the dog is exercised in a public place she will be muzzled and kept on a leash.’

Liberal Democrat Peer Rupert Redesdale outlined before the Lords his intention to introduce major changes to current dangerous dog legislation, which is widely considered to be one of the most ineffective pieces of government legislation ever brought into force.

These changes include:

· More emphasis on the owner’s responsibilities – the Bill supports the principle that it is the owner who has the potential to make a dog either well-behaved or badly-behaved. It gives authorised officers the powers to place Dog Control Notices on irresponsible owners at the first signs of dog aggression.

· Legislation will no longer be breed specific – since the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, public money and resources have been wasted by already overstretched police authorities seizing dogs simply for being of a particular breed or type. Research now overwhelmingly supports the principle of ‘deed not breed’, and proves that genetics (breed) play only a limited part in the temperament of an individual dog, with environment and training having a far greater effect.

· Attacks which take place on private property would also become a criminal offence – a large number of dog attack incidents occur within the home and on private property. The Bill includes various exemptions such as being attacked by another animal, provocation, and attacks on individuals committing an offence for which they could be imprisoned.

Regarding the second reading, Lord Redesdale commented: “The Control of Dogs Bill has had a successful second stage and is now going to Committee in the House of Lords. A number of issues were raised which will have to be dealt with in Committee but all contributions in the debate stressed the need for responsibility on the other end of the lead – with owners”.

Lord Redesdale’s work on the Bill has been supported by the Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group, which is made up of animal welfare organisations, veterinary professionals and local authorities. The DDASG has lobbied against the inadequacies of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 for many years and believes that current legislation has failed to protect the public and instead caused a significant welfare issue whilst creating the problem of status dogs.

DDASG Chairman and Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, Chris Laurence said “Contrary to the comments of Lord Grantchester in this afternoon’s speech, Dogs Trust wholeheartedly supports the work of the DDASG, at which we Chair, and Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill.

The Bill focuses on prevention rather than cure, better protects the public and emphasises responsible dog ownership and all members of DDASG are delighted that it has passed its next stage through Parliament”.

Existing legislation has failed to reduce the number of dog bite incidents in the UK, which have risen in the past five years by 79% in London and 43% nationally*. Meanwhile costs have continued to rise; it was revealed that 10 million pounds has been spent by the Metropolitan Police alone in the past 3 years simply to implement Section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act, relating to the seizure, kennelling and euthanasia of banned breeds.

The Dangerous Dogs Act Study Group has also launched a petition supporting Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill which already has almost 10,000 signatures. The petition can be found at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/repeal-and-replace-the-dangerous-dogs-act.html

For more information on DDASG, Lord Redesdale’s Dog Control Bill and current ‘dangerous dog’ legislation visit http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/928

The EDM is gaining signatures from across all political parties as MPs show their support for a compulsory microchipping scheme that would have a significant and positive welfare impact on dogs by:

* assisting in the return of stray and stolen dogs to their owners;
* improving traceability of puppy-farmed dogs; and
* providing a lifetime of security for a one-off payment.

The EDM is also supported by Dogs Trust (who coordinated the EDM), Cats Protection, Blue Cross, and NOAH (National Office for Animal Health).

Earlier this week Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones AM announced proposals for the compulsory microchipping of all dogs and puppies sold or homed by licensed breeders, to improve traceability.

Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said:

“Microchipping is part of responsible pet ownership and the BVA believes that all dogs should be permanently identified by microchip before the first change of ownership or at the first veterinary examination.

“Compulsory microchipping allows stray dogs to be reunited with their owners and would help the authorities to crack down on shameful puppy farms, where the health and welfare of both puppies and bitches is compromised, by improving the traceability of the animals.

“It could also assist with the reporting of hereditary health problems and surgical procedures to help us gain as much knowledge and research as we can to improve the health of all dogs.

“I would urge all Members of Parliament to show their support for dogs and their owners by signing this EDM.”

The full text of EDM 357: COMPULSORY MICROCHIPPING OF DOGS

Rosindell, Andrew

That this House recognises that the introduction of a compulsory microchipping scheme for dogs would have a significant and positive welfare impact, including the return of stray and stolen dogs to their owners and the improved traceability of puppy-farmed dogs; congratulates Dogs Trust, Cats Protection, Blue Cross, National Office of Animal Health and the British Veterinary Association on their efforts to raise public awareness of microchipping and their campaigning for a mandatory scheme; acknowledges that microchipping provides a lifetime of security for a one-off payment; agrees that a compulsory microchipping scheme is currently the preferred alternative to a dog licensing scheme, which would potentially create unnecessary bureaucracy and expense for local authorities; and believes that this would not represent a barrier to dog ownership for vulnerable groups.

The Minister asked the group to report to her by the end of June 2010.

The five welfare needs included in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are that animals should:

* have a suitable environment;
* have a suitable diet;
* have the ability to exhibit normal behaviour patterns;
* be housed separately or together with other animals; and
* be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

The report, which the Minister has accepted, makes three broad recommendations. First, that there should be legislative change for dog breeding by repealing existing statutory requirements and to provide new legislation; second, that changes to the licensing provision for dog breeding establishments should be made; and third, that statutory guidance on the new legislation should be made.

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones said:

“Pets are an important element of our society and ownership gives much pleasure, as well as associated responsibilities.

“The devolution of animal welfare powers to Welsh Ministers under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 has provided opportunities for us to make a real difference. It’s about improving standards and preventing suffering – prevention is better than cure, which is a principle of our overarching Animal Health and Welfare Strategy.

“We have already made legislation on electronic shock collars and tail docking of dogs and Codes of Practice for dogs, cats, equines and rabbits. The CAWES (Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme) programme has supported and is continuing to support evidence based decisions. Part of that process is to work with the third sector to raise standards.

The Minister announced that licensing conditions for dog breeding establishments will be redrafted to reflect the five welfare needs. To help achieve this, the report recommended that a maximum number of dogs should be kept per full time attendant.

The Minister added:

“If the breeding establishment is to meet the welfare and socialisation needs of dogs and puppies it was considered that, at the outside, a maximum ratio of one full time attendant to 20 dogs should be imposed.

“I am keen to emphasise, however, that where welfare requirements are fully met, it is a legitimate business and meets the demands of those wishing to buy pets.

“What is unacceptable is large scale breeding of puppies where welfare of both the parents and offspring may be compromised. Evidence submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government in research undertaken by local authorities, representations from many welfare bodies and several television programmes, all identified room for improvement for animal welfare in existing dog breeding licensing conditions.

“The group also considered the qualifying criteria for licensing. They agreed that existing criteria needed tightening particularly reducing the number of breeding bitches to trigger licensing to three from the current “five or more litters.”

Other changes will include the compulsory microchipping of all breeding dogs in licensed premises as well as the microchipping of all pups from these premises prior to sale or homing. This would provide clear traceability back to the breeder in case of health or welfare concerns.

It is proposed that statutory guidance will incorporate the five “needs” of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. This will give a clear direction to Welsh local authorities and to dog breeders to enable compliance with the licensing requirements. Consideration will need to be given at a later stage as to whether the Code of Practice on the Welfare of Dogs will need to be expanded to include more detail on dog breeding.

The Minister concluded:

“My role is to ensure that animal welfare is being promoted and animals protected without placing unnecessary burdens on the breeders or purchasers of dogs.”

The new legislation will be fully consulted on during a 12 week period.

On June 24th a two year old Greyhound called Highview Pilot was seriously injured, and subsequently “put down” by the track vet, after crashing into the rails at the second bend. Then, just last Saturday, three year old Townbrow Sioux suffered a fatal injury when he fell badly after colliding with another dog at the first.

These latest deaths have led to increased support for Greyhound Action’s call for an end to dog racing at the stadium, where the group’s local supporters already hold regular demonstrations.

Tony Peters, Greyhound Action’s UK Co-ordinator, said: “These tragic deaths are just the continuation of a long list of greyhound fatalities at Belle Vue Stadium.

“We were informed of the incidents by an official at the track, who has become increasingly concerned about the suffering and slaughter of dogs caused by the Greyhound racing industry.

“He also told us that some spectators were getting upset at how Greyhounds were being roughly handled and sometimes literally thrown into the traps prior to races.

“The fatal injuries to Highview Pilot and Townbrow Sioux come in the wake of reports of a large number of Greyhounds being “put down” at Belle Vue Stadium and has prompted animal protection campaigners to renew their calls for an end to dog racing there.

“Thousands of injuries to Greyhounds, many of them serious, occur every year in Britain. The main reason for this is that the shape of the tracks, with fast straights leading into tight bends, creates a very dangerous environment for dogs to run in.

“In addition, hundreds of other Greyhounds, bred because of the demand created by Belle Vue, are put to death as puppies or young dogs, before they even make it to the track, after being judged unsuitable for racing.

“According to recent research, more than 12,000 Greyhounds, bred for the British racing industry, are ‘put down’ every year, after failing to make the grade as racers or when their ‘careers’ on the tracks come to an end.

“An RSPCA report on Greyhound racing has stated that ‘at least 20 Greyhounds a day – either puppies which do not make the track, or retired dogs aged three or four – simply disappear, presumed killed’.

“Members of the public can help put an end to this horrific situation by not attending dog tracks or betting on GHreyhound racing, so this appalling industry fades away through lack of financial support.”

For more information, please visit Greyhound Action’s website at www.greyhoundaction.org.uk

Battersea’s Chief Executive, Claire Horton said: “Partnership lies at the heart of everything Battersea stands for. Though I have only joined the Home in June, I can immediately see how much has been achieved in the past year and how recent policies and working practices are now delivering tangible improvements.”

Key operational achievements in 2009 include:

· Care given to 10,600 dogs and cats across Battersea’s three sites in London, Windsor and Brands Hatch.

· Over 82% of Battersea’s total expenditure spent directly on animal care – a year on year improvement.

· 2178 lost dogs and 117 lost cats reunited with their owners thanks to the services of Battersea’s Lost Dogs & Cats Line

· Over 36,000 hours of time given by over 300 volunteers

· A record number of cats rehomed in August 2009 following a targeted media campaign

As a charity that relies almost entirely on the generosity and goodwill of its supporters, the economic strain of the past year has inevitably impacted upon both the revenue income and operational costs of the Home. Moreover, the consequences of irresponsible dog and cat breeding and ownership still factor heavily upon Battersea with almost 80% of its intake last year comprising of stray or abandoned animals from members of the public or via local authority dog warden services.

Claire Horton continued: “From our fundraisers and potential rehomers to local authority dog warden services and the Police; from fellow animal welfare organisations to key political stakeholders and the media; Battersea is dependent upon them all for their support but in return we offer a service and quality of care for our dogs and cats that is second to none.”