PEOPLE in Basingstoke can volunteer to help Battersea dogs and cats in need of a home as the charity launches their third community located in Basingstoke next week. 

The charity hopes to rehome more animals in the area through community rehoming volunteers, who will be recruited to care for animals on a temporary basis while taking on an active role to help find them a permanent home. 

Communities manager Emma Harrison said: “Our ultimate goal at Battersea is to help dogs and cats everywhere, and with the help of our new community in Basingstoke, we hope to rehome many more animals and reach more potential owners."

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Battersea’s Communities help animals like Ruby, a three-year-old Greyhound who arrived at Battersea as an ex-racing dog. Ruby was a long-stay resident at Battersea and struggled being away from people, and so was temporarily cared for by Shuang and Peter in their home for two months, who set about helping Ruby to come out of her shell. 

With their help, Ruby found a loving and experienced Greyhound home near the seaside, where she settled in immediately and made her owners’ house feel like a home again. 

Basingstoke Gazette: Community rehoming volunteer Shuang and three-year-old Ruby. Community rehoming volunteer Shuang and three-year-old Ruby. (Image: Battersea)

Peter said: “Becoming community rehoming volunteers for Battersea has changed our lives for the better and I would recommend it to anyone. We have always wanted a dog but could never have one due to our work schedules and becoming a community rehoming volunteer was the perfect way to fill that space and help the dogs at Battersea who are looking for loving homes. We became best friends with Ruby during our time together, and I am so glad that her time with us resulted in her finding a new family.” 

As part of Battersea’s community launch in Basingstoke, the charity will also be holding a community roadshow, visiting popular Basingstoke landmarks including Crabtree Plantation from 11am to 2pm on Tuesday, September 27 and Basingstoke Market on Wednesday, September 28. The Battersea team will be on hand to meet residents and talk about how they can get involved to help both dogs and cats. 

Battersea is looking for applicants that ideally live in the postcodes RG1-29 and do not have young children or other pets at home. Applicants will need access to a car in case the animal they are looking after needs veterinary attention and should be able to commit to looking after each dog or cat for up to a few weeks or, potentially, a couple of months. 

All community rehoming volunteers will receive ongoing support and behavioural training throughout their time looking after Battersea dogs and cats. The charity will also provide everything needed to look after an animals, including food, equipment and any necessary veterinary treatment. 

Battersea also has successful community schemes in Guildford and Ashford. 

For more details and to get involved battersea.org.uk/communities.