Series About Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Wins National Television Award

For the second straight year an eight-part documentary series which shines a spotlight on adorable adoptables at one of the United Kingdom’s most renowned animal welfare charities has won not only the hearts of doggedly devoted television viewers, but also an award at one of the most prestigious presentations of the British TV awards season.

Up against tough competition from such popular series as An Idiot Abroad, The Great British Bake Off and Top Gear, the second season of Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs was declared top dog in the category of Best Factual Entertainment during The National Television Awards, which was held on January 22nd at London’s O2 Arena.

Accepting the award for the series, which captivated approximately five million TV viewers each week with a behind the scenes look at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and a few of the charity’s 6,000 resident Rovers, Paul O’Grady said:

“I just like to say a lot of very, very clever people go into the making of For the Love of Dogs and I don’t include myself in that. I am talking about these people who manage to make a programme of me running amok amongst Battersea Dogs & Cats Home stealing puppies but somehow they manage to make a programme. Thank you so much for this. Thank you for watching the programme and thank you for supporting animal charities all around the country. There’s just somebody I would really like to thank – it’s all the dogs in the Home, they are the real stars of the show.”

Battersea Chief Executive Claire Horton, who was on stage with Paul to pick up the award, said: “We’re overwhelmed by how much the nation has taken our Battersea dogs to their heart and we’d like to thank every person that voted for our television series and made For the Love of Dogs the UK’s favourite factual entertainment programme for a second year running. Millions of viewers have been captivated by the stories of our dogs and this is thanks to the warmth and humour of our Battersea Ambassador Paul O’Grady, for whose continual support we’re immensely grateful.

A proud pet parent to several companion animals (including a puppy he met at Battersea during the first season of the ITV program) Paul O’Grady became fast friends with all of the dogs seen in the series, including Mr. Pickles, a hyperactive Beagle lovingly named as Battersea’s naughtiest dog ever; Twinkle, an emaciated Lurcher found tied to the charity’s gates; Missy and Bella, a Mother/daughter pair who had never been apart their whole lives; and Buddy, a three-legged Staffie who recently found his forever home with a family in Kent after he was seen in the Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs Christmas Day special.

For more information regarding Battersea Dogs and Cats Home:

• visit www.battersea.org.uk

Photo Credit: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home