If, like us, you've been enjoying the ITV series, Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs, you'll probably be happy to know that Paul could withstand the temptation no longer, and finally gave in and adopted a puppy from the shelter. Here's the latest news from Battersea:
Puppy love for Paul O’Grady as he is announced as a Battersea Ambassador
He’s inspired an entire nation to fall in love with Battersea’s homeless dogs. Now Paul O’Grady has joined the world-famous animal charity Battersea Dogs & Cats Home as a formal Ambassador and has broken his very own ‘canine contract’ by becoming the proud owner of a Battersea pup he’s named Eddie.
The immensely popular presenter has taken millions of television viewers on a journey behind the scenes at Battersea in the ITV1 series Paul O Grady: For The Love Of Dogs and with his warmth, humour, and dedication he is already proving to be a wonderful Ambassador for the charity’s thousands of abandoned and unwanted animals.
Paul has fallen in love with every Battersea dog he’s met, not least Carmine the Boxer who he tried to smuggle out by every means possible. And now at the eleventh hour he’s succumbed to the charms of Eddie the Chihuahua cross, a tiny puppy who had a starring role in the ITV1 series after being filmed being born by emergency C-section. So little Eddie has now joined his dogs Olga, Louis and Bullseye, and several sheep, pigs, goats and chickens on Paul’s farm.
Paul says: “I’m so proud to be a Battersea Ambassador and to carry on supporting their amazing work. Being a part of Battersea has been an absolute joy. I’m such a sucker for animals but I have a particular fondness for dogs, as you might have guessed! Spending so much time at Battersea really opened my eyes to how many unwanted and neglected dogs there are, which breaks my heart, but at the same time Battersea is such a happy and enriching place.”
Paul and his favourite Boxer Carmine lined up in a special doggie ‘Guard of Honour’ to greet Battersea’s first Ambassador the international supermodel David Gandy on a visit to the Home earlier this year. And it’s hardly surprising that in the last episode in the ITV1 series this week the charity was absolutely delighted to grant Paul the same honour - bringing many of its canine residents out to say a heartfelt thank you to Paul and to unveil a bronze sculpture of his late and much loved dog Buster.
Battersea’s Chief Executive Claire Horton says: “Welcoming Paul to Battersea was a wonderful experience for everyone who works and volunteers for the Home. Paul fits in so well and really loves his time here amongst the Battersea dogs. We wondered how long it would take Paul to give in and rehome a dog himself, and we were thrilled when he adopted Eddie, one of the miracle puppies featured in the series. Paul is a perfect Ambassador in every way. He’s so committed to our animals and we are all so grateful for his invaluable support.”