‘It’s still a Cinderella story’
Paul O’grady on how Battersea has coped with lockdown – and the puppy that stole his heart…
FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS: BACK IN BUSINESS
NEW WEDNESDAY / ITV / 8PM / FACTUAL
Whenever Paul O’grady visits Battersea Dogs & Cats Home for ITV’S For the Love of Dogs, he always insists that he’s not going to take home another canine companion.
But faced with a super-cute puppy and a very worthwhile cause in this week’s spin-off special, Paul O’grady’s For the Love of Dogs: Back in Business, it’s no surprise that he quickly succumbs to temptation!
The episode sees Paul head to Battersea just before lockdown began in March as the staff race to find new families or foster homes for the animals before the coronavirus pandemic causes them to temporarily close its three sites for the first time in 160 years.
Keen to help, Paul is introduced to a litter of Jack Russell cross puppies, and one, Dinky, who is renamed Nancy, joins the menagerie at Paul’s Kent farmhouse.
Here, Paul, 65, reveals how his beloved Battersea has risen to this unprecedented challenge and why little Nancy captured his heart…
What can you tell us about this special episode?
I promise that it’s not lockdown doom and gloom. It’s still a Cinderella story. Battersea is like the Fairy Godmother and the dogs go off to a lovely home with a happy ending. But this is on a whole new level finding loads of homes at record speed before the place shuts down. It’s heart-warming. It will cheer you up and make you cry.
It must have been a tough time for Battersea… Yes, they’ve only had a skeleton staff who go above and beyond. I walked in the gate and they said, ‘Battersea’s closing.’ It was so sudden. Next thing, we were discussing what would happen with the home, the staff, the fact there could be no visitors, no adoptions. The world turned upside down. The main worry was getting animals fostered. It shows the impact the virus has had on animal shelters. You can’t walk away – you’ve got to find homes for them.
And you stepped in to help, too, didn’t you?
They said the fatal words, ‘Would anyone like to foster a dog?’ I was like a kid in a candy shop! I also thought, ‘Who do I know who wants a dog?’ Everyone runs from me now in case I tell them there’s a lovely dog that’d suit them. Poor Julian Clary – I told him, ‘Here’s a gorgeous Jack Russell,’ which turned out to be a Staffie. He adores him – I knew they were suited!
What drew you to Nancy?
The pups’ mother was fine initially but then she rejected them and they had to be hand-reared. I sat on the floor with this lovely litter and one crawled inside my coat, under my armpit. I was not up for a puppy because they’re hard work. But she was a little angel. So I took her home. She’s twice the size now, extremely confident, loves her grub and when she’s not terrorising Arfur [Paul’s Welsh collie-terrier cross], who’s mad on her, she likes to pose for glamour shots on her
faux fur rug!
As the staff prepared for lockdown, were more animals still being brought in, too? Yes, we see Bobby, the bichon frise. He was lovely with so much energy – he’s nonstop. I was determined to find him a home. I kept saying, ‘He’s just a bit wriggly,’ which is a euphemism for, ‘He’s a nightmare.’ But it worked!
Are more people eager to adopt dogs since lockdown?
Lots of people were keen to get dogs at the start and I was worried. What happens when everyone goes back to work and school and the house is empty? Will owners realise that they can’t look after the dog and animal shelters will be inundated? But a lot of people are working from home now, so it’s proven it can work, so if that continues, that will be brilliant, because the dog will have company and the owner will have, too. Also, I’m a great believer in taking dogs into the workplace – it changes the atmosphere. At [Paul’s production company] Olga, you can take anything in. I’ve had a lamb in before! So if you can give a dog a good home, great, go for it!
Have your dogs helped you during lockdown?
I couldn’t choose better company. They put a smile on my face, no matter how bleak the news. They’ve made my life brighter in isolation. I’m lucky because I’ve got the garden and fields. It’s been nice not waking up every morning and having to get a move on. This is the first time ever I’ve had this time off. It’s bizarre and lovely – no pressure, no stress.
How have you kept busy?
We’ve emptied cupboards and drawers I haven’t been in for 20 years, finding old cards, photos and letters. I bake but I don’t like banana bread. I’ve never watched daytime telly before but I’ve found myself glued to Father Brown, the detective priest. It’s fabulous. And The Repair Shop has me in floods. It’s lovely. They go, ‘Look at my dad’s watch, you’ve repaired it.’ I’m in pieces by the end!
MY DOGS HAVE MADE MY LIFE BRIGHTER IN ISOLATION