A Home of Their Own

Book excerpt: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is the best-known animal sanctuary in the world. Since it first opened its doors in 1860, millions of abandoned and abused pets have benefited from its refuge. Around the world Battersea is a byword for compassion and hope. It hasn't always been this way. Victorian London had little time for canine strays, and homeless dogs were routinely destroyed.During its early years the Home was threatened by financial crises, eviction and legal action by neighbours upset by the constant barking. Yet the Home not only survived, it thrived. Here is the story of this remarkable institution. At its heart are the characters that made Battersea what it is today, from Mary Tealby, the extraordinary founder of the Home, to Airedale Jack, the dog who became a hero in the trenches of the Great War. Through both triumphs and tragedies, it is a book that will warm the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.