Our operational policy
At Battersea Dogs & Cats Home our core mission is never to turn away a dog or cat in need of our help. Subject to space, but irrespective of breed, condition, age, temperament or health we will open our doors to those animals in need of care and shelter and we will do all we can to either reunite them with their owners or to rehome them to loving new owners. Though this non-selective intake policy is increasingly rare within the animal welfare rescue sector, it continues to sit at the heart of everything Battersea stands for.
There is a down-side to this open door approach however, in that Battersea has to deal with a wide range in terms of the type and volume of animals arriving here: and as a result, the Home regularly receives animals with serious medical conditions and/or behavioural problems. This puts the onus on Battersea’s dedicated team of staff and volunteers to ensure each animal is treated on a case by case basis and to do the best we possibly can to give them the best possible chance of a happy future.
Every cat and dog that comes into the Home is treated with compassion and dignity and is assessed by a member of our veterinary team and highly experienced and trained temperament assessors. If, after assessment, the animal is suitable for rehoming we will care for that animal for as long as it takes for the right owner to come along. In some cases this can take a matter of days but for others it may be many months before they finally find that perfect new home.
If an animal is found to have medical problems, or to have behavioural or temperament issues then their journey through the Home may take longer. In terms of behaviour, we will take time to work with the animal to understand whether the problem (eg: aggression with other dogs, high levels of stress with people) can be resolved with time, training and care. If so the dog will be assessed again at a later stage for potential rehoming. But if at this stage the problems persist and we cannot be confident of rehoming it safely and responsibly, Battersea will take the sad but necessary decision to put the animal to sleep.
Battersea cares deeply for all the animals in its care and such decisions are never taken lightly or in isolation. Our intake policy means that difficult decisions have to be made on a regular basis but also ensures that every animal we take in gets a second chance. Battersea offers hope and the chance of a happy life to many dogs and cats who, if not for Battersea, would have nowhere else to go.
