Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has a long history of caring for dogs which have been abandoned or whose owners were unable to cope. The Home cares for thousands of dogs many different backgrounds and this year is looking more busy than ever.
Unfortunately many dogs at Battersea arrived because their previous owners only considered what they wanted their dog to look like – not its background and behaviour patterns.
As a result Battersea has seen a rise in the number of pure breed dogs it receives as well as a rise in the number of dogs that need country homes.
The most popular dogs purchased by misinformed town dwellers are, incredibly, Border Collies. These dogs love mental and physical stimulation – they are literally bored silly in the city and need space and air and things to chase.
Other breeds unhappy with life in the city are Jack Russell Terriers (miniature whirlwinds), Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers (both have endless reserves of energy and stamina), Springer Spaniels (originally bred for retrieving they have energy and stamina reserves to rival the Labradors and Golden Retrievers) and Lurchers (a very strong chase instinct coupled with very bad recall means a three legged Lurcher in the city).
Battersea has also lately seen a rise in Japanese and American Akitas. These awe inspiring dogs were originally used as hunters in Japan, therefore they have a very low tolerance of other dogs and so need to move to an area with a low dog population.
These are examples of some of the breeds which are unhappy in the city, and over the next few months dogs like these will be looking for places to live where they are more at home, with loving owners who can give them the attention they need.
This month, the dogs needing immediate housing are Boomer and Missy.
Boomer
Springer Spaniel
Five to seven years old
Male
Boomer is a dog in a million: sweet, gentle and loving but also playful and active. Sadly he has had to have an eye removed due to a chronic infection, but he has settled very well into life at Battersea, spending his nights in our kennels and his days keeping staff company in one of the offices. He has proved to be very adaptable, friendly and relaxed with visitors and is happy to settle down and sleep in a corner.
Boomer previous owners reported that he had suffered from seperation anxiety, although we have not seen this behaviour in the Home. He has been happy to be left alone for short periods in the office, but new owners will need to follow a programme to ensure he does not experience anxiety when back in a home environment, and he would be best suited to a multi-carer household.
Boomer could live older children who have experience around dogs. He is not happy sharing his home with another dog, although is sociable out and about, and he would not be suitable for a home with cats. He would be best suited to an out-of-town home with plenty of space to exercise.
Boomer is a wonderful boy, and will make a loyal and devoted companion.
If you are interested in Boomer please call Battersea Dogs & Cats Home on 020 7627 9234 and quote reference 07/00179
Missy
Mongrel
One year old
Female
Missy is a very active girl who is constantly looking for things to do, so she needs new owners who can match her enthusiasm for life! She has no basic training, but she is very quick to learn and eager to please. New owners will need to be calm and patient with her to avoid her becoming over-stimulated. Missy is a bright spark with bags of energy will be lots of fun to train.
Missy is looking for owners who are very active. She is no couch potato and has bags of energy so her new owners will need to able to keep up. She would be suited to a home with no children due to her jumping up and excitability, although she may be able to live with older teens. Missy will need owners who will be around the majority of the time to begin with, and who will gradually build up the amount of time she spends on her own. She will need to live in a semi-rural or rural environment to provide her with quieter exercise areas for training.
Missy could live with a mature dog who would act as a good role model, but not with cats. She will make a fun, lively companion for people as vivacious as she is, and will be well worth the effort of training her.
If you are interested in Missy please call Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s Behaviour Unit on 020 7627 7884 and quote reference 06/01988
