Paul O’grady’s For the Love of Dogs: Back in Business
How Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has cared for its animals during lockdown…
15 July, 8pm ITV Factual
How have the staff and animals at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home coped during lockdown? In this special episode, Paul O’grady follows the team at Battersea, who, due to the pandemic, close their sites for the first time in 160 years and race to find new homes for the animals. He meets a litter of Jack Russell cross puppies, and fosters one, Dinky, who he renames Nancy!
The COVID-19 pandemic has proved challenging for the nation, but how have the staff at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home managed during lockdown?
In Back in Business, a special episode of Paul O’grady: For the Love of Dogs, Paul follows the team at Battersea when, to safeguard against the virus, they temporarily close their sites for the first time in 160 years and race to find new families or foster homes for the animals.
‘It shows the impact the virus has had on animal shelters,’ says Paul. ‘You can’t just walk away – you’ve got to find homes for the animals at record speed.’
When Paul meets a litter of Jack Russell cross puppies, he eagerly agrees to help by fostering one, Dinky, who he renames Nancy.
‘They said the fatal words, “Would anyone like to foster a dog?” This is all to help Battersea. I’m a selfless man,’ laughs Paul. ‘I sat with these lovely puppies and one crawled inside my coat and that was it.’
The episode also sees staff deal with new animals, including four-month-old bichon frise Bobby, whose owners didn’t have time to care for him.
‘Bobby’s lovely, with so much energy,’ says Paul. ‘I was determined to find him a home. I kept saying, “He’s just wriggly,” which is a euphemism for, “He’s a nightmare.” But it worked!’
The episode also takes a rare look at Battersea’s cats as Paul befriends long-haired Bear, who has FIV, the feline form of HIV, and helps feed twomonth-old kitten Willow.
‘People think I don’t like cats but I love them,’ says Paul. ‘But they’re not as easy to film with as dogs, because they’re unpredictable. They just flick their tail and wander off!’