Book description
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.
Garry Jenkins
is an author and journalist. During a 25-year career he has written for
magazines and newspapers from
Elle
to
Time Out
and the
Daily Mail
. He now writes regularly for
The Times
. He has also collaborated on a number of bestselling animal-related
books. He lives with his family in London.
