Visit to Battersea Home

Karyn writes - I had one of the highlights of our holiday thus far today when Julia Rose and I visited Battersea Dogs' and Cats' Home!

Why a highlight?  Well since December 2012, our daughter Lydia has been employed in the communications' team at Battersea in London - a job that she is deeply passionate about and for her, is her dream job. She couldn't imagine working anywhere else.  Unfortunately David couldn't join us as he had a luncheon to attend.

We actually followed in some very serious footsteps today - arriving at 12.30pm, British Prime Minister David Cameron had visited Battersea earlier this morning to pay respect to the work carried out and also congratulate the 1000th Battersea volunteer (see the story below).  Lydia was thrilled she had the opportunity to have a couple of words with the British leader.

Battersea is a charitable organisation that is famous in the United Kingdom - it is over 150 years old and does an amazing job caring for lost, stray and abused cats and dogs.  Animals dealt a terrible blow by humans, animals who deserve much, much better.

At Battersea they get the best chance possible for future happiness.  After being rigorously assessed, dogs and cats are cared for on site and are available for re-homing to caring and loving families who really want them (and who have been prior approved through interviews etc).

Battersea cares for over 10,000 dogs and cats every year and has some wonderful supporters - for example Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, adopted and rehomed her second rescue dog after her first Battersea terrier passed away after a very long and happy life with the Duchess.  She is a great supporter of Battersea and in 2010 opened the new cattery - which I have to say is a state of the art facility.

Paul O'Grady recently completed his second series of "For the Love of Dogs" - a Bafta nominated and television award winning series of programmes where the famous TV personality follows the lives and success stories of Battersea dogs - this series is hugely popular in the UK so I hope we get to see it in New Zealand in the future.

Julia Rose and I received a guided tour from Lydia.  We started off the in state of art cattery - each cat having its own very smart "pen" - with a full description on the outside explaining who the cat is, its background and the type of home it needs.  There was even a special blue plaque (such as you see on historic buildings in London) above the former pen of "Larry" - the cat made famous when he was adopted by David Cameron and his family two years ago and now calls No. 10 Downing Street home.

After spending time with a litter of four kittens in the 'socialising room', we were off to inspect the dogs - homed on four levels of the canine area.  Goodness me - how many could I take home and give a loving life to?  (our three are quite enough says David)!!

It was very emotional moving from pen to pen, reading bio after bio of these very special animals waiting for someone to take them home and love them.  Some had "I have a home" on their pen doors - great news!  Others wait patiently, looking, trying to impress.  The best news is that Battersea has a policy of never turning a dog (or cat) away - and they are cared and handled until a new home is found for them. Some are long term residents too!

The staff are incredible and the volunteers, well what can I say? - they commit so much time and energy to Battersea - which also frees up precious funds for the important work at hand.

It was just terrific to see where Lydia works in London and to meet her team - including Debbie her manager who successfully helped me to plot Lydia's birthday celebration across the oceans earlier in the year.

Isn't it wonderful when your children love their careers - and even better when you know that the work they do makes such a difference to the lives of those who have no voice themselves.

Here is the news report about the David Cameron's Battersea visit this morning:

Prime Minister David Cameron celebrates 1000th volunteer at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home

David Cameron watches dogs on the outdoor course.

The Prime Minister dropped into Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to celebrate the signing up of their 1000th volunteer.

An army of dogs greeted David Cameron and performed a guard of honour as he arrived at the home in Battersea Park Road this morning.

Mr Cameron met with 1000th volunteer James Moore and terrier Bertie, who struggled to stay in the Prime Minister's arms.  He was also taken to an outdoor paddock where pooches demonstrated their training on an outdoor course and the charity's cattery.

It was the first time Mr Cameron has visited the home, although Downing Street successfully rehomed cat Larry more than two years ago.

Mr Cameron praised the volunteers for donating their time in the charity's three centres and spoke about the benefits of giving up time to volunteer.

He said: "They find an enormous amount of satisfaction.

"They feel they're doing something good for others, and in this case good for animals, good for the community and also they find they get a lot out of it for themselves.

"We've tried to encourage volunteering not least with things like National Citizen Service, which is giving every young person, over time, the chance to take part in community service projects, and I think we're going to see a big growth in that.

"Volunteering's up over the last few years, as is charitable giving. They're not the only measures of the success of the big society - but they are two important measures."

The subject of dangerous dogs was also on the agenda, with Mr Cameron discussing the current consultation for tougher penalties on owners.

Mr Moore, of Beckenham, who also works at Imperial College, said: "I was wanting to volunteer for quite a while and when this position at Battersea came up I got the opportunity.

"I work as a support volunteer for the cattery. It is a good way to spend my spare time."

The charity has recently seen a surge in volunteers, with a 45 per cent increase in applications from across the UK.

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