Animal Magic
Kent Life|April 2020
Battersea's rehoming centre Brands Hatch, which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary, offers a peaceful rural sanctuary for dogs and cats
Animal Magic

The Brands Hatch centre of animal rehoming charity Battersea has come a long way since it opened 20 years ago to cope with overflow from the main London centre.

Originally a privately owned boarding kennels, the Kent site is set in 12 acres of rolling countryside and has been rebuilt from the ground up to provide state-of-the-art facilities to the many rescue animals who pass through its doors. Run by a mixture of paid staff and dedicated volunteers, Battersea Brands Hatch can house up to 61 animals at one time – with kennels and a cattery section, as well as a clinic and plenty of woodland walks for the dogs.

We’re welcomed at the front desk by a member of staff and by Dan, a friendly black greyhound who is the current office assistant.

Centre Manager Anna Hemmings, previously at the London centre, has worked here for the past three years and shows off the facilities proudly, keen to point out how much time the staff spend one-to-one with the animals.

“I had always wanted to work at the Brands Hatch site,” she says. “Because of the beautiful location with fields and woodlands to exercise and socialise the dogs in. I had always known about the centre as I grew up nearby.

“It’s the secluded rural site that makes this centre really stand out, and it’s often used for the animals that need more peaceful surroundings than the city.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2020-Ausgabe von Kent Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2020-Ausgabe von Kent Life.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS KENT LIFEAlle anzeigen
The choice of leaders
Kent Life

The choice of leaders

It’s a small, scenic Kentish market town on the border with Surrey, famous for not one but two great leaders. We take a look around Westerham

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
The eco-warriors
Kent Life

The eco-warriors

Awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2019 in recognition of its research in global nature conservation, the role of Kent-based DICE has never been more relevant

time-read
7 Minuten  |
November 2020
Kent's most CURIOUS MONUMENTS
Kent Life

Kent's most CURIOUS MONUMENTS

Our county can boast some of the most celebrated and downright unusual protected mouments in the country

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2020
Ghosts of a river's life
Kent Life

Ghosts of a river's life

Kent Life discovers an an other-worldliness about the marshes, creeks, and saltings of the lower reaches of the river Medway

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
The return of the son
Kent Life

The return of the son

The Unknown Warrior’s journey from the World War One battlefields via Dover to his resting place in Westminster Abbey is 100 years old this month

time-read
5 Minuten  |
November 2020
We will remember
Kent Life

We will remember

In a year when we got an inkling of what living through a war means, we remember the 75th anniversary of the end of the Great War

time-read
6 Minuten  |
November 2020
Age-old advice
Kent Life

Age-old advice

Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 2020
10 GOOD REASONS TO VISIT Medway Towns
Kent Life

10 GOOD REASONS TO VISIT Medway Towns

A vast Dockyard, a Napoleonic fort and a JCB diggers theme park - let’s visit Chatham and Medway

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 2020
KENT'S CREEPIEST- GHOST STORIES
Kent Life

KENT'S CREEPIEST- GHOST STORIES

Here are 10 tales to make you shiver as we celebrate All Hallows’ Eve

time-read
7 Minuten  |
October 2020
Joking apart
Kent Life

Joking apart

From his home in Broadstairs, Royston Robertson comes up with satirical, topical and sometimes just plain silly cartoons

time-read
5 Minuten  |
October 2020