Behind Battersea
We talk to another member of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home about their job.
Jennifer (pictured right) works as customer information assistant in the Lost and Found department and she also fosters Caine.
So what exactly does your job entail?
Our job involves showing people round who have lost their dogs. First of all they have to file a report. We take unwanted pets and we also take in strays.
How many animals do you take in?
You never know. Some weekends can be very, very busy but sometimes you get a random day in the week that's really busy as well. There are certain times of year that are busy as well.
How do you verify that they are the owner?
The form they fill in asks them all about the dog and we then ask them for ID with name and address. If we were unsure after they've identified a dog as theirs then we'd ask for further proof, maybe records from the vets, photographs. Most people will have a picture of their dog or cat.
What makes for a good day?
Well, the good bit, obviously, is when we get to reunite people with their lost pet. We get really rewarding cases where someone has lost their dog for 2 years and they've been microchipped and they suddenly turn up here. It's not so nice when you get some of the strays in that have been mistreated.
What's your background?
I don't have any animal background, really. I've done lots of voluntary work over the years with various animals. Prior to this I've always worked in an office environment.
A lot of people seem to have come from a different field and have ended up working here because of their enthusiasm for and their love of animals.
That's right. Working with animals, it's not something everybody can do from a young age. It's something a lot of people get involved with later. You get people that work here because they have developed a genuine love of dogs.
A lot of the workers here take part in the fostering process, do you?
I've fostered a dog for the last 3 « months. He's called Caine and he's a Rottweiler. They've got a really bad press but he's lovely. He's like a gentle giant, so laid back and loving.
Does working here make you think beyond the stereotypes and go for larger dogs?
I think so. Everyone that works here has their favourite breed, but sometimes a dog will come along and you'll fall in love with it, not because of its size, or breed – you see beyond that.
It must be very emotionally draining...
It's a very emotional job at times. It can take it out of you. It can be quite frustrating because you're not allowed to be judgemental. You do get people who come in that you genuinely think they haven't done right by that animal, but you have to be professional.
