As part of the Hasbro Toy Tribe, we not only get to review the latest Hasbro toys but we also get the opportunity to attend their great events too. On this occasion we were invited one morning to visit Battersea Dogs and Cats Home to meet Chatty Charlie, the Barkin’ Beagle pet, his best friend Conker and lots of Battersea’s other residents!
We had the fantastic opportunity to see firsthand, the amazing work that Battersea Dogs & Cats Home does to successfully re-home animals to loving new families. Bella loves animals, but it’s a dog that she would really love to have and keeps asking me to get one, so as you can imagine she was very excited that she would be visiting this place.
Hasbro has partnered with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to help people better understand the rehoming process and ‘paws’ for thought around welcoming a rescue dog into their home.
Getting to Battersea meant crossing London for us and we had to take a bus, an overground and a train as there is no direct route. Bella loves traveling by train so she really enjoyed our journey. It was also an opportunity for some nice mummy-daughter time away from home. Having a younger sister means she now really appreciates it when she gets our undivided attention. We both love it when we can do things together like this.
We were greeted on arrival and taken to a meeting room for some pastries and something to drink. There were some Chatty Charlies around for us to play with. We’d actually received ours the day before but we hadn’t had the chance to open it at this point so we were very curious about him.
Chatty Charlie is one of Hasbro’s exciting new additions to the FurReal family. The Barkin’ Beagle is a fun, cuddly dog with a collar that translates his 80+ barks into phrases to reveal exactly what he is thinking and feeling. With ears that move, Charlie also responds to touch, cuddles and wags his tail when petted. We will be doing a review soon so watch this space to learn more about him.
There was also a lovely real dog for the kids to meet and pet. He was actually the dog of one of the members of the staff.
Spearheaded by FurReal Friends Chatty Charlie The Barkin’ Beagle and his best friend Conker, Hasbro’s support will highlight the importance of rehoming rescue animals at one of the UK’s oldest and most famous animal rescue centres.
We were given a tour of the premises where they showed us how everything works from the moment a new dog arrives.
The whole process is very interesting. I was impressed to see how well organised and caring they are. They really know what they are doing and the dogs are very well looked after.
Firstly, the dog is put in a room where they can be quiet until they feel more comfortable. The staff takes their time before they approach the dog as it needs to feel comfortable. When ready, they wash and groom the dog which is then taken to another room where they are given some scents to help calm them down.
We then went to the area where families meet their future dogs. It’s a lovely area which is very spacious giving the dog plenty of room to go around. Here we met a lovely Beagle. This adorable dog was looking for a new owner so if you love Beagles and are looking to home a dog please contact Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
Following the tour, we were given a talk by Hasbro and the members of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. They brought along two more doggies for the kids to meet and pet.
Chatty Charlie’s arrival at Battersea and unique relationship with Conker has been captured in a cute and heart-warming video which will help spread awareness of the intake and re-homing process at Battersea. You can click here to see the video.
Battersea strives to ensure that every dog and cat that comes through its doors receive expert care. It aims never to turn away a dog or cat in need of help, caring for them until their owners or loving new homes can be found.
See below more information about Battersea Dogs & Cats Home:
- Established in 1860 and since then has rescued, reunited and rehomed over 3.1 million dogs and cats.
- In 2016 the Home cared for over 7,000 dogs and cats
- In addition to the site in South West London, the Home also has two other centres based at Old Windsor, Berkshire and Brands Hatch, Kent.
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home rehomes dogs and cats all over the UK.
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home receives no central government funding towards the care of its dogs and cats and relies on the generosity and support of the public to help care for lost and abandoned dogs & cats.
We also got a little peak of the cat’s area as I couldn’t leave without doing that as I am a cat lover! OMG, this area is adorable. The cats are so cute. I wanted to take them all home, LOL!
We had an amazing morning at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. We loved learning more about their fantastic work. We really think the partnership between Hasbro and BDCH will be a great way to educate children and families alike on the importance of rehoming rescue dogs. You can find more information about them HERE.
Have you visited Battersea Dogs and Cats Home before? Have you rescued a dog or cat before? Or are you looking to rescue one now?
*Disclosure: we were invited to this event as part of being part of the Toy Tribe and for the purpose of this blog post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
Lovely photos / animals 🙂
We’ve always had rescue cats in our home and currently have 4 cats, 2 of which we adopted when we lived in London, and 2 which we adopted when we moved to our current home in Merseyside. I think people should always try to adopt rather than buying a cat or dog from a breeder or pet shop. A lot of those animals are bred in dreadful conditions and buying them just encourages unscrupulous people to breed more animals. Much better to adopt.
Yes I agree with you!
Looks like you had a wonderful day if I visited I’d end up bringing half the animals home with me xXx
I know what you mean! Me too! They were all so adorable!
Oh now I’m really jealous! I would have loved this event. I am a huge cat lover but would like to think I will rescue a dog one day. I really think I would have struggled to leave without taking one home though. I rescued a cat from the cat’s protection shelter. I have also taken on two cats that didn’t work out with family. I’m pretty much against breeding cats and dogs and in total support of neutering. There are far too many unwanted animals out there to be breeding more.
Yes that is true and it is so sad! I am also a cat lover! I would have taken all if I could! Lol xx
I feel I should give a warning with this post. I own a Beagle, and although I love him to bits, the breed are greedier than Labradors and very, very stubborn, don’t let the cute looks fool you! I rescued him as a 6 year old, and he started off being loving and adorable, then when he knew he had reeled me in, the attitude came!
Having read a lot more about them, he’s 100% Beagle character!
Wow interesting!
What a great idea ! We have had 3 rescue cats and a lot of rescue chickens!
Looks like everyone had a fantastic day! The centre is doing a such a worthwhile job.
I definately think people should look to rehome animals rather than buy from a breeder
What great work they do!
My cats a rescue cat love the poctures
Great Trip
We’re looking to get a cat and will be seriously considering a rescue cat x
Aww that is lovely! Love cats! Good luck! 🙂
I remember walking around the home and crying because it’s so sad to see the dogs lined up in cages. I know they do a good job and we as a family have rescued before and will do so in the future.
Looks like you had a fantastic time, I enjoyed looking at all the photos you took.
Aww thank you!
Glad you had a lovely day, and good job highlighting the amazing Battersea dogs and cats home.
Thank you!
We have had rescue cats and dogs and they are always so loving 🙂
I have visited Battersea before! I have a very strong Adopt don’t shop philosophy with pets. There are far too many abandoned animals in the world, to give one a home is so rewarding
Lovely dogs. I always admire people for adopting and rescuing all the pets regardless of types, breeds, and looks. This post motivates me to adopt at least 1 more dog this year.
Aww that is lovely 🙂