Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett

WHAT a difference a day makes. Almost a blizzard outside the venue for the Ealing Animal Charities Fair on the Friday evening before the Fair and, on the Sunday morning, the most

Spring like day imaginable. Sandwiched in the middle was the Fair which, although it is held inside in the warm, reinforced to me how difficult it must be to organise an event in the open air with the unpredictability of the weather.

But I needn’t have worried about the snow spoiling the fair, determined stallholders, readers and members of the public turned out in great numbers to support the animal charities represented bringing, within themselves, all the salt and grit that was needed, to make the event what our local MP, Steve Pound, described as the “biggest and best yet”. Looking forward to next year already.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home is organising an event in the open air but that is part of the attraction. In this new corporate fundraising event, called Stray Over, Battersea is challenging business colleagues to sleep out under the stars on Friday night, April 27, at their iconic London centre. Each team should consist of a maximum of five members with a nominated team leader. The team can be made up of people from the same company or a combination of business individuals from different organisations. In order to take part, Battersea ask that each team raises £2,500 for the home. The evening promises team building exercises, opportunities to work together to solve problems as well as networking with other participating companies. You’ll also get an afterhours tour of the home, evening food and breakfast. If your company would like to take part, you can register at battersea.org.uk.

One current resident of Battersea, Ted the Lurcher, knows what it’s like to sleep out under the stars.

When he arrived at Battersea’s gates on February 9 as a stray, he was in a sorry state with scabs on his muzzle. However, he has proven to be an affectionate, playful and lovely boy.

If you would like to home Ted, he is being looked after at Battersea’s site on Priest Hill, Old Windsor.

As we move from winter into spring, we need to think about who is going to look after our animals if we go away in the Ssummer. Good catteries, kennels and pet sitters get booked up early so next week, we’ll focus

Are you right there, Ted?

Dedicated animal expert MARION GARNETT, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair continues her column