A refuge started by Mary Tealby
In 1860, Mary Tealby opened a temporary home for lost and starving dogs in a disused stable yard in Holloway, north London. The organisation later moved to the area that gave it its familiar name. This beginning explains the continuing importance of providing somewhere for animals to receive care before finding a new home.
Cats became part of the story
Battersea began caring for cats in 1883, long before its name formally recognised them. The change to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home came in 2002. Its history also records the opening of Whittington Lodge, a purpose-built cattery, in 1907. Feline care therefore has its own long development within an organisation often associated first with dogs.
Three centres, developed over time
The organisation expanded beyond London by opening Old Windsor in 1979 and Brands Hatch in Kent in 1999. These sites form part of its work caring for and rehoming dogs and cats. For someone looking into adoption or support, distinguishing the centres matters: the London profile represents an organisation whose animals and activities are spread across several locations.
Treatment is part of preparing for a new home
Battersea’s London centre gained a new veterinary hospital in 2016. Earlier milestones include a clinic opened in 1970 and the later recruitment of foster carers to support animals outside kennels and catteries. The official timeline shows how medical facilities and different care settings developed alongside the rehoming work.
Sharing changes that another rescue can use
Launched in 2018, Battersea Academy shares knowledge with rescue staff and volunteers. Its Forest Dog Rescue case study describes calmer kennel arrangements and more individual training, including for Wednesday, a dog later adopted. Find Battersea’s London profile on the AnimalProtech map and explore this wider role through its own accounts.
Frequently asked questions
- Does AnimalProtech verify Battersea Dogs & Cats Home?
- AnimalProtech organizes public information and helps review community corrections, but each donation, adoption, or contact should be verified directly through the animal rescuer's or organization's official channels.
- How can I contact Battersea Dogs & Cats Home?
- Use the public channels saved on this page and confirm that the opened profile matches Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, the location London - England - United Kingdom, and the displayed identifiers.
- Is it safe to donate or adopt using only this page?
- No. Use this page as a starting point, then confirm identity, need, accountability, and public history before donating, sending documents, or adopting.
- How can I correct incomplete or outdated information?
- Use the contribution form at the end of the page and send verifiable public links. Do not send personal documents, private addresses, or sensitive third-party data.