Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
IT’S EARLY morning and I’m still in bed, trying not to be think about the chaos downstairs.
The house definitely has a “morning after the night before” feel. But “the night before” wasn’t a party, it was the Ealing Animal Charities Fair the previous day and the success of the event is definitely worth the disarray. Speakers got standing ovations, stunning home-made cakes were eaten and hundreds of people attended. Many readers introduced themselves to me - it was lovely to meet you all. But, for me, the most poignant moment was when an older gentleman approached me clutching a newspaper article about the benefits of having a pet and handwritten underneath he explained how sad he felt that he had lived in Ealing for 25 years but he could never experience these benefits because, in his rented accommodation he wasn’t allowed to keep a dog or cat. And, how upset this made him, especially when he passed a dog on the street knowing he would never have the joy of living with one. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home are amongst the animal rescue charities working towards encouraging housing providers to allow pets into their properties. In their Pet Friendly Properties campaign, they outline the benefits of pet ownership such as pets can help lift depression and reduce loneliness. They say that each year more than 200 dogs pass through Battersea’s gates because of landlords not allowing pets. Their report highlights that by 2025, it’s anticipated that 60% of all London households will rent their homes so it’s important to address this issue. Battersea’s recommendations include that Local Authorities and Housing Associations should implement more flexible policies on keeping dogs and cats with a presumption in favour of allowing a pet. If they want support, they should enlist the help of a recognised animal welfare organisation such as Battersea who have developed schemes and ideas to help ensure the keeping of pets in rented accommodation is successful for both landlord and tenant. More details at battersea. org.uk.
Battersea expect German Shepherd dog Pam to bring her new owner a lot of joy.
This beautiful girl is suitable for a home looking for their first larger dog – as long as her new family is confident taking on a larger dog. Any new owner will need to speak to the vet before rehoming. If this could be you, Pam’s waiting at the rehoming centre on Battersea Park Road.