Our vision, mission and values

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's vision is of a world where all dogs and cats are in caring and permanent homes.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is a charity that aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of our help.  We reunite lost dogs and cats with their owners; when we can't do this, we care for them until new homes can be found for them; and we educate the public about responsible pet ownership.

• We care passionately about the welfare of dogs and cats
• We treat all animals with humanity and dignity
• We put no limit on the length of time a dog or cat can stay with us whilst we find it a new home
• We never put an animal to sleep unless there are significant medical or temperament reasons which mean it is unlikely ever to be rehomed
• We value our staff
• We value the continuing relationships with all our stakeholders and supporters
• We provide careful stewardship of our resources.

At Battersea Dogs & Cats Home we are proud of our long and esteemed history.  This heritage, along with our dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters, have made the Home what it is today - a well-renowned organisation committed to our mission.

Over the years our vision and commitment to these animals has formed the image the world sees today - our character, our pedigree if you like.

Trust and authority

People who have experienced the Home, and even those who have not, attribute us a great deal of authority and trust. They respect our extensive experience and that we have specialised in nothing else for more than a century.  They applaud our responsible approach to rehoming the animals in our care and our behavioural expertise, which is at their disposal at any time should they need our help and support.

Home and family

The word "home" in our name, the actual building and place it represents, conjures up a strong sense of what we are about.  A sense of warmth, nurture and security.  Ours is a home for the animals, safe from whatever harm they may have faced in their lives before coming to us.  A sense of belonging, of community, of family. People see the Home itself and the animals in its care as one big family, too.

 On the other side, the sense of home and family come from our rehoming animals to loving and permanent new homes -  a companion animal becomes as much a member of the family as any of its human members.

Love

Love is at the very centre of everything Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is about and stands for.  It is clearly demonstrated by our staff and volunteers and in their feelings towards the animals in their care.  This intangible but incredibly strong theme is reinforced every day by the owner's experience with their own Battersea dog or cat.  People never forget where their dog or cat came from and their love for their pet intrinsically feeds back into how they perceive us.