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Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the largest animal welfare charity operating in the UK. In 2008 (8,780) dogs and (2,682) cats arrived at one of our three centres. The Home never ultimately refuses a dog or cat in need of our help. As our intake is not selective, we care for a wide range of cat and dog breeds. This presents a real challenge in maintaining a regular flow of cats and dogs through the Home and into permanent homes. The increase in the number of stray dogs arriving at the home especially Staffordshire Bull Terriers or discernable crosses has presented enormous challenges to the way we manage kennel space and care for dogs at Battersea. The high number of these breeds has increased the number of illnesses and conditions associated with them. Including cases of dermodex manage and several other allergic skin conditions. Which may have gone untreated and thus, take longer to heal.

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    Situation

    The treatments for these types of skin conditions require prescribed treatments and can be controlled through regular grooming. The large numbers of cats and dogs that we care for means that items and tools used for grooming are always in demand. Grooming involves more than brushing hair and teeth.Grooming is a species typical behaviour engaged in by humans, primates and of course cats and dogs. Grooming is an essential part of caring for dogs and cats. It provides a number of direct benefits. 1. Grooming helps both cats and dogs to get used to being handled 2. Helps maintain healthy skin, hair, teeth, nails and bones 3. It also helps cats and dogs to bond with Battersea staff and volunteers helping them to feel more secure 4.Battersea staff are trained to spot potential health risks before they become major complications. Observations made during routine pet grooming can uncover tumors, weight problems and vision trouble 5.Grooming is regularly provided for cats and dogs that cannot use their natural grooming methods due to illness or injury Cat Flu is one such illness that causes great distress rendering cats unable to groom themselves, and can spread rapidly through a cattery environment. Cats with flu will suffer from a reduced appetite, respiratory difficulties, runny and swollen eyes and will feel very miserable. Regular grooming of cats with cat flu helps to keep the nasal passages of the cat clear, making breathing easier and helps them to feel more comfortable. The stray dogs and cats arriving at Battersea may hide a number of infections that have not been treated. Many times, a health concern is discovered through the act of grooming. Parasite infestations such as fleas or ticks are often found during bathing or brushing sessions. Matted fur could be hiding skin diseases or outside irritants such as clinging plant pods or thorns. If regular grooming is not carried out, these small irritants can become infected or abscessed. Dirt inside the ears of an animal can also be cleaned out before it becomes compacted. Our ultimate goal at Battersea is to re-home cats and dogs to loving permanent homes, a groomed animal is a healthy and happy animal which ensures we can re-home them faster. That’s why we are seeking £5,000 to purchase new grooming tools like nail clippers, de-shedding tools, electric trimmers, a grooming table as well as modernising the grooming areas with a new non-slip floor and a much needed lick of paint. A new bath will also be purchased as the current bath requires staff and volunteers to life dogs in and out of the bath, which poses a health and safety issue to the individuals having to lift dogs in and out of the bath. The current bath is also very rusty and no longer meets the high standard we set for the animals in our care.

    Solution

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  • Animals Animals
  • Beneficiaries