Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert MARION GARNETT, founder of the Ealing Animal Welfare Bazaar, continues her column
I’M AT Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Annual Reunion in Battersea Park, watching the Dog Show – the Loveliest Lady class, to be precise. Bows and sparkly jackets abound and that’s just the spectators...
There are dogs everywhere - dogs being loaded into cars, tired ones being carried and fearful ones wearing yellow harnesses warning people they are “Anxious”.
There are several celebrities here and I can’t help but compare the arrangements for VIPs today with the PupAid Dog Show I went to yesterday on Primrose Hill. (PupAid campaigns against the cruel practice of puppy farming).
In Battersea Park, VIPs are given a delightful tent with the table set out as though ready for afternoon tea with accompanying fragrant flower arrangements.
At PupAid, VIPs were given a picket-fenced enclosure guarded by cool-looking hefty security guards wearing shades.
Mind you, security was needed at PupAid, as I have to report my lunch was stolen. Quick as a flash, an off-lead thief spied my unguarded veggie wrap lying on the grass, arrowed himself in, grabbed what he could, winding it into his mouth as he ran. So much for posh Primrose Hill.
But back to the Battersea Reunion, amongst all the fun of the day, the serious messages of Battersea shone through – the animals who desperately need homes and the campaigns Battersea spearhead.
Their current key campaign is for harsher sentences for those involved with animal cruelty. Currently the maximum sen- tence in England for acts of animal cruelty is just six months. This compares to five years for flytipping.
Their campaign is supported by some of the UK’s most-loved comedians such as Paul O’Grady, Ricky Gervais and Sue Perkins. We can add our support by visiting battersea.org.uk/notfunny and emailing our MP asking for the law to be changed.
Animals deserve better protection – just look at Kayden’s trusting face.
This gorgeous staffie arrived at Battersea when his owner moved house. He has lived a sheltered life and is looking forward to being slowly introduced to what the outside world has to offer.
He is loving and could share his home with another dog who could be his role model. If you would like to home Kayden, see battersea.org.uk.
Finally, Chiswick House Dog Show takes place on Sunday (11am-4.15pm). Charities such as Dogs Trust and Mayhew will also be amongst over 60 stallholders there. It takes place on the cricket pitch at Chiswick House Gardens W4 2RP.