Battersea Dogs & Cats Home at bursting point

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has issued a warning that it is at bursting point due to an unprecedented increase in the number of stray dogs into the Home this year. The world-famous rescue organisation believes that the more than 1,000 increase in stray dogs is partly due to people not knowing where to find lost dogs because of new legislation and partly as a result of the credit crunch.
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Jan Barlow, Chief Executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, says:

‘We are urgently appealing to anyone who may have lost their dog recently to make contact with their local authority animal warden and Battersea’s Lost Dogs & Cats Line to see if Battersea may have their dog, so we can reunite as many lost dogs with their owners as possible before Christmas.’

Battersea is finding that fewer dogs are being reunited with their owners outside the Home since the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act came fully into force in April, and so is striving to raise awareness that stray dogs are now the responsibility of local authorities.

The Home has taken in 6,430 stray dogs so far this year, compared with 5,335 at the same stage in 2007. Strays currently account for 82% of dogs at the Home

Jan Barlow says:

‘We are just over a week away from Christmas and are almost full. While we think part of the rise in numbers of strays is because people can’t afford to keep their dogs any more so are dumping them on the streets, we’re also extremely worried that people losing their dogs don’t where to turn to try and find them.

Many people are not being reunited with their lost dogs because they don’t realise that, since the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act came into force fully in April, stray dogs are dealt with by local authorities and in London the majority of these strays are brought direct to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. The last thing we want is for families across the capital to have their Christmas ruined by being apart from their beloved pet, so If you’ve lost your dog, you could be reunited with it in time for Christmas by contacting your Local Authority.’

‘We’d recommend dog owners find out the details of their Local Authority and of Battersea’s Lost Dogs & Cats Line. They should also get their dog microchipped and ensure it is fitted with a collar and identification tag. All of this information is available on Battersea’s website www.battersea.org.uk’

Jan Barlow adds:

‘With the increase in numbers we are now looking for even more new homes for the dogs in our care, so we would ask anyone who is considering getting a dog to visit Battersea, or other rescue centres.’