Loose Woman Andrea Dog from Battersea fills my heart with happiness
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ANDREA Mclean’s new Battersea puppy has transformed her life and marriage – and now she’s backing our appeal to help rescue dogs this Christmas.
The Loose Women star had been feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, working non-stop – until she adopted cute cavapoo Teddy with husband Nick.
Loose Women panellist Andrea, 50, said: “Teddy has changed our lives.
“Nick and I work hard together every day, which can mean talking shop from the moment we wake up until we go to bed. It can be overwhelming, there’s no let up when you work for yourself.
“We didn’t have time to breathe, never mind get a dog. But that’s exactly what Teddy has done, he’s made us take time to breathe, to stop, go for a walk, get fresh air and think about something else.
“He has helped me mentally more than I realised, because he takes my mind off everything I’ve been worried or stressed about. He’s calmed me down.”
Andrea is backing our Help a Dog Christmas Appeal, in association with Battersea’s In From The Cold fundraiser.
Its aim is to give Battersea the money it needs to make sure all the dogs it takes in are cared for this Christmas and beyond.
Last winter, 14,000 pets were left out in the cold.
Love
But thanks to donations, staff could bring them into the warmth, give life-saving care and show them love until they found a home of their own.
Mum-of-two Andrea volunteers for Battersea as a foster carer to dogs who need looking after until they find their forever home.
But when Andrea fostered Teddy, she couldn’t contemplate giving him back.
She said: “We didn’t plan to adopt Teddy. We got a call one day to say a puppy was coming in and could we collect him.
“Nothing unusual in that – he is the sixth dog we’ve had. So Nick and I brought him home and christened him Teddy, because he looks like a teddy bear.
“A few weeks went by and he was due to pop back to Battersea to get his final injections. They casually mentioned they thought he was ready for a forever home.
“I looked at Nick. He looked at me. And we both knew we couldn’t bear the thought of him being with anyone else. So we adopted him the next day.
“Teddy fills our hearts with love and joy. Our labradoodle Jackson died last year and I was heartbroken. I didn’t think I’d be able to love another dog again, I was almost afraid to.
“But Teddy slotted into our family like he’d always been there, he’s part of us.
“He’s a cheeky puppy, so of course he chews and bites and still has accidents, which aren’t particularly welcome. But he’s also smart, fun, silly and his own little character. He thinks he’s a labrador – he walks for miles in the mud, wind and rain and loves it.”
That’s why Andrea wants Sunday People readers to get behind our appeal.
As she puts it: “We love working with Battersea because they want each and every animal to get a second chance at finding love. Isn’t that all any of us want in life?
“My heart breaks to think of anyone – human or animal – being left out in the cold with no one to love and care for them. But animals in particular who have been abandoned by owners who they loved, who they relied on, it makes me so sad.
“We foster dogs from Battersea so we know what a difference they make to so many lives. We wanted to help because we love dogs, and we will carry on fostering even though we’ve ended up keeping Teddy.” Battersea is one of the UK’S oldest rescue centres and has rescued, reunited and rehomed more than 3.1 million dogs and cats since it was founded in 1860.
Last year, it helped more than 4,000 dogs and this Christmas it will be home to more than
250.
Last Boxing Day, adorable puppy Noodle was brought to
Battersea in pain with a deformed paw.
Vets operated on his leg and treated him for stomach issues, while rehoming experts brought the little pup out of his shell.
He’s now made a full recovery and is happily living in his new home in Oxfordshire with owners
Elise and Gideon Defoe.
Elise said: “Noodle is an exponential joy machine. If you are considering getting