Battersea’s homeless hounds send Santa their Christmas lists

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has been helping some of the centre’s loneliest dogs pen Christmas letters to Santa.

Unsurprisingly, finding a home is top of the list for Darcy, Sally and their four-legged friends.

These dogs are all hoping they won’t have to spend too much longer in Battersea’s kennels, and are asking Father Christmas’s help in making their Christmas wish come true.

The dogs range from Mr Scruffy – a wiry-haired Mongrel, who’s hoping Santa will help him find owners who will look past his unusual hair do –  to Sally, a Greyhound who’s having trouble standing out from the crowd.

Becky Fisher, Battersea’s rehoming and welfare manager, said: “We do everything we can to make Christmas as fun as possible for our dogs – we give them a special Christmas lunch, decorate the kennels and play carols to get them in the festive spirit. But it’s not the same as being in their own home – and we’re hoping these letters will help shine the spotlight on some of our dogs who face spending the festive season at Battersea, without a family.”

Here are some of the dogs and their letters:

Mr Scruffy

Dear Santa,
All I want for Christmas is a home where someone will love me, even when I have a bad hair day. Can you please help me?
Love Mr Scruffy.

Mr Scruffy is a Mongrel with big smile and an adorable, shaggy hair-style. He’s a high-energy Terrier who has been passed through a lot of homes before he came to Battersea. Mr Scruffy finds the world a bit overwhelming and he’s hoping to find a home in the country, with owners who will teach him to be the best dog he can be.

Sky

Dear Santa,
My name is Sky and I have been at Battersea for 120 days, which is a really, really long time. For Christmas, can I please have a family to love me?
Love Sky.

Sky is getting lonely in Battersea’s kennels, despite the best efforts of the staff to cheer her up. There’s still lots of energy left in this seven-year-old and she has many years of love left in her. She loves charging around with tennis balls and she’s a very cuddly girl, who lives for human affection. If you can answer Sky’s Christmas wishes, please get in touch with Battersea.

Darcy

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I would love a home with a garden of my own and I would also like someone to play with please.
Love Darcy.

Despite her hand-knitted Christmas jumper, Darcy’s finding it hard to get in the festive spirit. She really misses her old home and is hoping she’ll soon find new owners to love her. She’s a calm and affectionate dog, but she does have a stubborn streak and will need experienced owners to help teach her to mind her manners around other dogs. She’s a very smart girl who loves people and she’s going to make a wonderful, cuddly companion to whoever is lucky enough to take her home.

Sally

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want a comfy bed all of my own and someone who will snuggle with me.
Love Sally.

Poor Sally has found herself back at Battersea for a second time – through no fault of her own – and this former racer is in real need of a lucky break. She’s an affectionate and eager-to-please girl who loves people and hates being left by herself. Despite her gentle nature, this girl is having trouble standing out among the other dogs at Battersea. Could you be the one to help Sally find her Christmas miracle of a home?