This week is Volunteers’ Week and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is celebrating two of its dedicated volunteers from Walton on Thames who have made a real difference to the charity.
Animal lovers Sally Curren and her partner John Sullivan have provided a temporary home and loving care to over 75 homeless animals from Battersea’s Old Windsor centre since 2009.
The inspirational couple, who met on a Lion Conservation Project in Zimbabwe, have helped Battersea care for dogs and cats who would otherwise struggle in a rescue centre environment.
Sally and John are now celebrating a momentous nine years of fostering for Battersea Old Windsor. The pair have provided invaluable care to orphaned kittens, timid cats and stressed dogs. This includes Baloo, a shy Domestic Short-hair who struggled in a cattery environment when he arrived at Battersea Old Windsor in 2015. However, after going on foster with Sally and John, the five-year-old gradually came out of his shell and found a permanent home.
Fostering is hugely beneficial to help Battersea determine what type of future home environment will be suitable for its dogs and cats. Last year, over 1,160 animals from Battersea’s three centres benefited from living at a temporary foster home.
Sally said: “Knowing that you’ve helped an animal find their second chance in life makes the whole experience worthwhile. It’s so rewarding to see your foster animal develop and find their new permanent home. If you’re able to provide temporary care to a dog or cat, I’d definitely recommend signing up to foster from Battersea.”
Battersea’s Head of Volunteering & Fostering, Charlotte Fielder, said: “Sally and John are a wonderful example of the compassion and enthusiasm our volunteers and foster carers show to the animals at Battersea. They play a huge role in helping our charity rehome thousands of animals every year.”
“We’ll be celebrating the hard work and achievements of all our volunteers and foster carers during Volunteers’ Week and throughout the month of June.”
Last year, support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery contributed towards the Volunteering and Fostering Department at Battersea. Currently, People’s Postcode Lottery has raised a total of £2.1million to the charity, giving its volunteers and foster carers more opportunities and tools to provide essential care for the thousands of dogs and cats the charity takes in every year.
To find out more information on fostering at Battersea please visit https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/fostering.