Battersea Dogs & Cats Home have announced today (October 16) that they will be naming their new veterinary hospital after the late Paul O’Grady, who was an ambassador for the charity since 2012.
A tribute fund was set up by the animal charity after the TV and radio presenters death in March 2023. To date, £480,000 has been raised in O’Grady’s honour. On what would have been O’Grady’s eleventh year as an ambassador for Battersea, they announced it would be spending the funds on “life-saving and transformative medical procedures” for dogs and cats who need specialist care and treatment.
In addition to Battersea Dogs & Cats home, five other animal charities that were close to his heart will each receive £20,000 in his memory.
Paul O’Grady was well known for his love of animals and his committed work for various animal charities. He worked passionately to raise awareness for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, particularly through his ITV series Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs.
O’Grady’s incredible contribution to animal welfare was recognised with an RSPCA animal hero award and a special recognition award at the NTA’s in 2018 for the impact For The Love Of Dogs had on helping find homes for rescue animals nationwide.
The chief executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Peter Laurie, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed and deeply touched by the generous donations from thousands of people following the death of our beloved ambassador, Paul O’Grady. It really is a testament to how loved Paul was, and we shall always be forever grateful for everything he did for us. As an ambassador for Battersea, especially during his 11 years filming For the Love of Dogs, Paul helped animals in their recuperation from surgery, and at times watched as they headed off-site for specialist surgery. Naming our veterinary hospital after Paul, therefore, feels fitting.”
Read more about Paul O’Grady’s work with Battersea Dogs & Cats Home here.