A woof to close the deal

On Tuesday 11 September the BGC trading floors at Canary Wharf played host to some very special Battersea Dogs & Cats Home supporters and their dogs. Ashleigh & Pudsey, Paul O’ Grady, Craig Revel Horwood and Neil Fox all presided over the phones as they took part in the annual BGC Partners’ Charity Day.

On Tuesday 11 September the BGC trading floors at Canary Wharf played host to some very special Battersea supporters and their dogs.

Ashleigh & Pudsey, Paul O’ Grady, Craig Revel Horwood and Neil Fox all presided over the phones as they took part in the annual BGC Partners’ Charity Day.  

BGC’s annual Charity Day takes place on September 11 and commemorates those who perished in the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Celebrities who are representing participating charities join licensed brokers on the trading floors to conduct transactions with BGC clients and 100% of the revenues from the day are donated to charities. 

This year Battersea was honoured to participate and brought along its close supporters and some famous canine friends to help raise much needed funds for the Home.

Paul O’ Grady, presenter of a brand new prime-time ITV1 series on Battersea took to the floor with ex-Battersea Chihuahua Betty and had traders in stitches as he closed deals with his signature humour. Having recently spent time working alongside the animals, staff and volunteers at one of the world’s most famous animal rescues, Paul made a seamless transition from kennel cleaning and dog agility to juggling stocks and shares.

Paul was also reunited at the event with Magic FM DJ Neil Fox and his Battersea dog Bonzo after he was filmed rehoming the puppy to ‘Dr’ Fox and his family earlier this year. The nation fell head over heels with Bonzo, a tiny Jack Russell Shih-tzu cross puppy when his story was aired in the first episode of Paul O’ Grady: For The Love Of Dogs, and #bonzo was soon trending on Twitter as thousands took to the social media site to express their love for the puppy. With Bonzo at his side Neil definitely had the cute factor to close his deals as nobody could resist Bonzo’s puppy dog charm.

Ashleigh and Pudsey and Craig Revel Horwood also brought showbiz glamour to the trading floor and showed why they are such great stars of stage and screen. With trademark panache they both choreographed a great floor display to raise money for the charity.

Claire Horton, Battersea Chief Executive said:

“We’re extremely honoured to be part of BGC Partners’ Charity Day 2012 and take part in a worldwide fundraising event that will help scores of UK charities. It costs Battersea £13 million every year to look after the thousands of abandoned and unwanted dogs and cats that come into our care, and we’re so grateful for the support of our good friends Paul O’ Grady, Craig Revel Horwood, Ashleigh and Pudsey, and Neil Fox in helping us raise vital funds that will enable us to continue this work.”