A new project by primary school children is helping to give Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s loneliest residents a voice. In a series entitled ‘When I grow up…’, children have drawn pictures and written letters from the rescue dogs’ perspectives, in the hope it will help others understand what these dogs would really love.
All the featured dogs have spent far too long waiting in kennels for a new family, so the stories are quite heartbreaking.
Neo
“When I grow up, my friends at Battersea say I will have a family, but I don’t know what that means. I think I used to have one once, but it was so long ago I don’t remember.” – Neo, Lurcher.
At just two years old, Neo has spent over half of his young life waiting in kennels, having arrived at Battersea’s Old Windsor centre from another rescue over a year ago. Neo was once an underweight stray, but is now healthy, lively lad. His picture is by eight-year-old Carrie Sales.
Indie
“I don’t like being left alone, because I’m scared my family won’t come back. When I grow up, I will have a family who will always come home to me.” – Indie, Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Indie just loves to be around people, so kennel life has been incredibly hard on her. She’s already had a one home offer, but sadly it didn’t work out and Indie soon found herself back at Battersea. Her picture is by eight-year-old Elizabeth Pearce and her letter is by six-year-old Eleanor Webb.
Sally
“When I grow up I will live with a Greyhound brother, and he will come on adventures with me and be by my side always. And I will have lots of human friends too, so I will never be alone.” – Sally, Greyhound.
Ex-racer Sally is so much happier in the company of another dog, so would love a new home with a canine friend. Her picture is by eight-year-old Alexandra Rose Pearce.
Kezzie
“When I grow up, I will live in a house with a big garden. And I will have a family who are patient and kind and they will show me the world isn’t as scary as I sometimes think it is.” – Kezzie, Collie-cross.
Kezzie is Battersea’s Brands Hatch site’s most-overlooked dog, having spent more than 560 days there. She has quite a nervous nature, and needs someone who can build her trust and reassure her. Her picture is by six-year-old Beatrix Buckfield.
Featured image via Battersea