M AI N ED IT IO N
APRIL 2023 ISSUE 01 Father’s Day Gifts for Dog Dads
Remembering ‘For The Love of Dogs’
Cats Coronation Chic THE KEPT ANIMALS BILL Find out why the kept animals bill is so important to the UK.
Paul O’Grady INSIDE
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MEET THE C ROSIE O CK A POO
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Editor-in-chief Lucy Morris Sally Marie Rosie Nichols Tobias James Amelia Bazzone Darren Wynne Heather Wilkins Lyndsey Adams Chloe Bennet Isabelle Price Laszlo Balogh
Executive Editor Wildlife Editor Digital Editor Features Editor Photo/Sub Editor Photo Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement Director Editorial Assistant Logo Illustrator
Contributors ROSIE TILFORD, AMY TILFORD, SCOTT DUFFIELD, TATIANA DMITRIEVA, DOMINIK MAZURKIEWICZ, REGATTA, CHARLEY CHAU, RUFF AND TUMBLE, F&F, CHESHIRE AND WAIN, ACRE & HOLT, LAURENCE KING PUBLISHING, CRUFTS, THE BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT, WAG & WOOL, LOLITA BOGACHEVA, СМИРНОВА СВЕТЛАНА, BATTERSEA DOG AND CATS HOME.
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@perfectopetsmag @conkernaturemagazine @conkernaturemag www.conkernature.com @conkernature Perfectpets@conkernature.com Perfect Pets, PO Box 9661, United Kingdom, BH1 9LY
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PETS MAGAZINE
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CONTENTS 06
April 2023
LETTER FROM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THIS MONTH, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, LUCY MORRIS WELCOMES YOU TO THE FIRST RELEASE OF OUR LONG-AWAITED PUBLICATION, PERFECT PETS MAGAZINE!
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INTERVIEW WITH ROSIE THE COCKAPOO INTRODUCING ROSIE THE COCKAPOO! BORN IN MARCH 2020 DURING THE HEIGHT OF LOCKDOWN, ROSIE BROUGHT MUCH JOY TO OWNER, TILLY. ROSIE AND TILLY ARE INSEPERABLE, GOING ADVENTURING AND EVEN COMPETING IN COMPETITIONS!
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BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT, UK BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT IS THE WORLD’S LEADING ORGANISATION FOR RESCUING AND REHOMING ANIMALS USED IN EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH.
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FATHERS DAY GIFTS FOR DOG LOVERS FOR THE STYLE CONSCIOUS DOG DAD AND HIS BEST FRIEND! THESE PRECIOUS DOG AND DAD MATCHING BOW TIES HAVE BEEN HAND-MADE IN THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND AND MAKE THE PERFECT FINISH TO AN EXTRA SPECIAL OCCASION.
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THE SADDLE AND STABLES PHOTOGRAPHER: LOLITA BOGACHEVA IG: BOGACHEVALOLITA
PETS MAGAZINE
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April 2023
CATS CORONATION CHIC AS WE COUNT DOWN TO THE CORONATION; FASHIONING THEIR BEST PATRIOTIC ATTIRE, KITTIES CAN DO THE CORONATION TOO THANKS TO BRITISH LUXURY CAT COLLAR AND LIFESTYLE BRAND CHESHIRE & WAIN.
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SPRING CORGI PHOTOGRAPHER: СМИРНОВА СВЕТЛАНА IG: @SSSMIRNUHA
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PERFECT PETS LATEST NEWS DISCOVER THE LATEST OF PERFECT PETS NEWS BY VISITING OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.CONKERNATURE.COM/ PERFECT-PETS
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BATTERSEA PAYS TRIBUTE TO PAUL O’GRADY BATTERSEA IS JOINING THE NATION IN MOURNING THE LOSS OF PAUL O’GRADY - AN ENTERTAINMENT LEGEND AND MUCH-LOVED AMBASSADOR WHO HELPED RAISE THE PROFILE OF BATTERSEA TO MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH THE HUGELY POPULAR ITV SERIES PAUL O’GRADY FOR THE LOVE OF DOGS.
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THE NEXT PERFECT PETS ISSUE DISCOVER HOW TO SUBMIT TO THE NEXT ISSUE OF PERFECT PETS MAGAZINE, RELEASING 05TH JUNE 2023
PETS MAGAZINE
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Editor’s Letter
April 2023 Photo by Tilly Tilford Instagram: @_rosiepoo_
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LUCY JANE MORRIS @LUCYMORRISWILD It is a delight to bring you our first ever Perfect Pets Magazine! This magazine has been a long time in the making, and we are thrilled to be able share this long-awaited publication with you. I have always had a passion for pets since the beginning of my childhood, where like many families today, my house was filled with pets from the start. As a child, we had both ginger British longhaired cats and Yorkshire Terrier dogs - both of which made my family feel that little bit more bigger and exciting. They were all almost like childhood friends you could play, explore with and talk to. I’m sure that many people could relate.
REGATTA: ZIP OFF WALKING TROUSERS £60
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CHARLEY CHAU LUXURY RATTAN PEEL DOG BASKET AND MATTRESS SET ROUND - £289
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: COLOUR-POP RED CAT COLLAR -£45
F&F: PEACHED RAINCOAT - £36
As I grew up, I realised that my passion for pets should be explored further, so I decided to join The Kennel Club’s ‘Young Kennel Club’ group, and I have worked alongside the organisation ever since, so expect them to make an appearence in these issues every once in a while. If you have a child that is interesting in dogs - I’d definitely recommend a sign up! As an adult, I have since adopted a beautiful, curious and loving Khao Manee female - and I simply couldn’t imagine life without her and bringing her on adventures. To me, your pets are almost like an extension of your family, a part of the pack if you will. Since over 52% of UK adults own a pet, here at Perfect Pets Magazine we want to bring you the latest and greatest of our four-legged pals.
ACRE & HOLT - WOMEN’S GILET BLUE CHECKTWEED - £365
On a different note, whilst writing this, the news broke that the UK lost a national treasure and pet-lover, Paul O’Grady. We are heartbroken to hear the news, and hope Paul is having the time of his life above with all his furry friends. Battersea Cats and Dogs Home released a statement that you can read in full from page 38.
LAURENCE KING PUBLISHING - DO YOU KNOW YOUR DOGS - £14.99
We look forward to seeing you next time!
LJM PETS MAGAZINE
RUFF AND TUMBLE: MOSS COUNTRY DOG DRYING COAT - £59.95
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BEHIND-THE-COVER
Meet the Dog Rosie The Cockapoo Born in March 2020 during the height of lockdown, Rosie brought much joy to owner, Tilly. Rosie and Tilly are inseperable, going adventuring and even competing in competitions! Photos by Tilly Tilford Instagram: @_rosiepoo_
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Welcome Tilly and Rosie, and thank you for joining us on the front cover of this month’s Perfect Pets magazine. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Please introduce Rosie to our readers, describing a little bit about her personality, how she came into your life, and where she was born. Where to start with Rosie! Rosie was right place, right time. I was fortunate enough to have Rosie come into my life during the Covid-19 lockdown, a family member actually has Rosie’s mum, Bonnie the working spaniel, so it was meant to be especially in a difficult and challenging time in my and many other’s lives! Rosie was born at the very start of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in the UK. She couldn’t be more far away from the horror stories you hear about lockdown puppies, she’s confident (knows what she likes/wants) loving and loves to social with people. A greet and tummy tickle is a must. Evening cuddles on a evening after crazy day of zoomies is a must! As an owner of a cockapoo, what would you describe as your favourite trait in the breed and why? That’s a difficult question as there is no two cockapoos that are the same, it really is a pot of luck in how a puppy will turn out, from the hair coat, colouring, and personality. I will say they are super intelligent and love to be worked whether that be learning new tricks, enrichment toys, agility, or just a good old game of hide and seek indoors on rainy days. The cover image shot is beautiful of Rosie, what is the story behind the shot? Is it a place that Rosie often visits?
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Myself and Rosie have a favourite brunch spot called Toast restaurant, in Flyford Flavell, Worcestershire! It is a must visit if you are in the area, it is super dog friendly, has incredible food, and to top it all off the stunning bluebell woodlands is directly opposite which is perfect for a pre/post brunch walk! Rosie had her birthday pawtys there, Morgan the owner is the best host!
Lilac is certainly Rosie’s colour! It is just perfect against her apricot curly fur. I also love that this cover just shows her cheekiness and her love for adventures! We love Rosie’s harness on Rosie’s front cover shot, where can our readers purchase this product, and how long has Rosie had this harness for?
What is your favourite part of this It’s from pawsome paws boutique, a cover shot and how do you feel it stands small dog accessory online out from other images of Rosie? business!
BEHIND-THE-COVER | ROSIE THE COCKAPOO
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BEHIND-THE-COVER | ROSIE THE COCKAPOO
Does Rosie have a favourite toy or accessory that is a go-to, and has she had this from birth or it is a recent addition?
Rosie is turning into quite the social media dog-fluencer, documenting her time with her other dog friends and her travels.
It has been a recent addition that she loves a cosy knitted jumper, especially at Christmas!
Are there any other dog-fluencers or friends that you admire?
Like any dog, it is evident that Rosie loves her walks. What location would you say is a firm favourite for you and Rosie any why? I think Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, for its sunrises, speaks for itself! Recently, Rosie competed in her first ever show in UK agility. Can you describe the process of the agility show to our readers? Rosie comes from two working breeds, so agility was a no brainer. We started with a few 1-to-1 seassions weekly, then before Christmas we joined a group class.
We love Pinky Paws (find them on Instagram @pinkypaws.looneytoons) Pinky Paws do the best reels content! Pinky Paws is also Rosie’s agility buddy! Rosie is extremely adventurous, having visited both DogFest North and her first ever show. What is next for Rosie, and will she be competing in any more shows? We will be returning back to DogFest this year! Me and Rosie have also just recently got back from the Isle of Wight in South England - the Isle of Wight is a must return as there is so many beautiful places to see and things to do. We also spend a lot of time in Yorkshire, as that is where I am orginally from! Rosie also loves the beach, so you’ll find us there a lot. Finally, where can our readers keep up with Roise, her adventures and process? What plaform are you and Rosie most active on?
The support I recieved from the others in the class has been amazing and has really built both of our confidences, one hour of class and Rosie is out for the night.
We are most active over on Instagram, where you can follow Rosie and her adventuires over at @ _rosiepoo_.!
We have been training just a little over a year, and did our first show in January, coming out with three clear runs and a 3rd place win.
Thaank you for taking the time to answer our questions Tilly and Rosie. We are sure that the readers of Perfect Pets Magazine will love learning about Rosie, your journey together and the behind-the-cover story.
It has built an unbreakable bond and we’ve both found a a fantastic support network.
Thank you for joining us!
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ABOUT THE OWNER + PET Meet the breed: Cockapoo Meet the cockapoo (also known as the cockapoodle), the breed that is a combination of the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle - ultimate makes a breed that is definitely people-orientated. This hybrid is an intelligent breed to train, trains easily, a hardly massively shedding breed, and one that is so affectionate that you’ll rarely feel alone. In fact, the lack of privacy might result in you having to shut the bathroom door eventually! Your paw-fect pal will do well running on around an agility course, showing off tricks to company, a companion therapy dog, or just a chill buddy to hang out with. Your lap is their lap, by the way.
ROSIE AND TILLY TILFORD Rosie and Tilly from Worcestershire, have been together since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown. Rosie now competes in agility competions. You can follow Rosie by following her instagram at: IG: @_rosiepoo_
A true breed of cockerpoo has been bred with the goal of a healthly, hypoallergenic dog with a good temperment. Cockerpoo breeder feel that the dog’s health and temperament are far more important than appearance, and that’s what they continue to strive for (but nevertheless, the Cockapoo tends to be an adorable
looking buddy). You won’t find many, if any, discussions among breeders about head shapes and heights compared to other breed discussions. In terms in diseases, not all cockapoos will get any or all of these dieases, but it is important to be aware if you are considering the breed. - Cataracts, patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, allergies, liver diease and ear infections. Of course this is only a snippet of the breed please conduct your own research.
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BRAND FEATURE - WAG & WOOL
Fathers Day Gifts for Dog Lovers For the style conscious dog dad and his best friend! These precious dog and dad matching bow ties have been hand-made in the South East of England and make the perfect finish to an extra special occasion. Premium, natural fabrics are made in-house on a weaving loom, we then partner with a local seamstress to hand-finish the bow ties. The yarn is beautifully textured to ensure a smart finish that any ‘good dog’ will be proud to wear. The entire making process of these unique items is completed in Brighton and sent directly to you, treated with care these precious gifts will last a dogs lifetime. These are quality items that will last the test of time. Matching set, includes a human bow tie and a matching dog bow tie. Both are adjustable to fit various sizes. *dog and dad bow tie sets start at £40 with free shipping site wide. You can purchase the Dog and Dad Matching Hand-Woven Bow Tie Set from www.wagandwool.com at £40.
About Wag & Wool Wag & Wool is a British-made, luxury dog designer, run by Rachael the face of Wag & Wool. The Wag & Wool story told by Racheal: ‘The pandemic gave us all a chance for pause and introspection. For me, it was an opportunity to put the vitality of the high fashion industry on hold and concentrate on a project closer to my heart. Having shared my life with dogs since I can remember, I wanted to begin designing knitwear for man’s best friend. The lightbulb moment came to me when I met my friend and her dog, Monti, on a particularly chilly day in Brighton. We wrapped Monti up in one of my hand-knitted lambswool scarves to keep him cosy and I never looked back. WAG&WOOL was born - the first design being named after my muse, of course - Monti. The first few samples were knitted and tested among friends and family - who loved the idea of having matching knitted dog coats and human accessories. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in the world of design for dogs, embracing a new creative direction and taking the time to experiment during lockdown. I spent hours researching the best yarns for my designs and have finally achieved a premium 100% lambswool product made in the UK. WAG&WOOL has already flown from success to success thanks to our beloved customers. So, keep an eye out for new designs and colours, bringing comfort and style to pet jumpers and plenty of wagging tails to dog walks near you.
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‘Premium, natural fabrics are made in-house on a weaving loom, we then partner with a local seamstress to hand-finish the bow ties.
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22 | PERFECT PETS | 2023 PHOTOGRAPHER: LOLITA BOGACHEVA IG: BOGACHEVALOLITA
THE SADDLE AND STABLES
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BRAND FEATURE - CHESHIRE & WAIN
Fancy Neckwear & Crown Jewels So Cats Can Be Coronation Chic
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: THE ‘CASPIAN’ CAVIAR COLLAR -£70
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: COLOUR-POP RED CAT COLLAR -£45
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: ‘GARNET’ CHARM -£16
As the nation counts down to the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla; whipping up quiches, preparing for ‘Big Lunches’ and fashioning their best patriotic attire, kitties can do the coronation too thanks to British luxury cat collar and lifestyle brand Cheshire & Wain. With regal-hued luxury leather cat collars and crown jewel-esque cat collar charms, Cheshire & Wain has gorgeous accessories fit for feline royalty. One’s royal cat-ness can wave their patriotic paw whilst adorned in a ‘Royal’ Blue or ‘Caspian’ Gold collar (priced £65 each), both part of Cheshire & Wain’s very own royal family – the Caviar collection. Fashioned from luxury leather and suede, each collar comes in a special edition novelty caviar tin, which doubles up as storage for precious things. Alternatively, the beautiful Red leather collar in the Colour-Pop collection (£45) offers an impressive display of pageantry to a cat’s resplendent look. All collar designs incorporate solid brass hardware and Cheshire & Wain’s signature breakaway safety catch, preventing injury if a cat was to get their collar caught on something. The crowning glory for a Cheshire & Wain collar is the brand’s charm collection – sparkling gems set in 24-carat gold plated settings and complete with a brass ring for collar attachment. With over ten gems to choose from, Crystal, Garnet and Amethyst Gold (£16 each) are the purrfect choice for this very special royal occasion. Shop a cat’s Coronation chic at Cheshireandwain.com.
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: ‘CRYSTAL’ GEM COLLAR CHARM WITH GOLD SETTING - £16
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: THE ‘ROYAL’ CAVIAR COLLAR -£45
CHESHIRE AND WAIN: THE ‘AMETHYST’ GEM COLLAR CHARM -£16
ABOUT CHESHIRE & WAIN Cheshire & Wain is a British lifestyle brand specialising in luxury cat accessories for fabulous felines. First inspired by the arrival of silver-spotted British Shorthair cat Mr Peter Wells (otherwise known as Percy) in 2013, his owner Sonja Farrell began shopping for the necessary cat paraphernalia to welcome her new kitten. Finding herself disappointed by the quality and aesthetic of what was available – with her main frustration being the lack of high quality, leather cat collars, which were also safe for Percy to wear - Sonja founded Cheshire & Wain.
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Spring Corgi Photographer: Смирнова Светлана IG: @ sssmirnuha
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THE LATEST NEWS - PAUL O’ GRADY
BATTERSEA PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS DEVOTED AMBASSADOR PAUL O’GRADY
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PAUL O’GRADY 14 JUNE 1955 - 28TH MARCH 2023 40 | PERFECT PETS | 2023
Battersea is joining the nation in mourning the loss of Paul O’Grady - an entertainment legend and much-loved Ambassador who helped raise the profile of Battersea to millions around the world through the hugely popular ITV series Paul O’Grady for the Love of Dogs. Paul O’Grady: The Love of Dogs was first broadcast on Monday 3rd September 2012 on ITV. Paul then became an Battersea Ambassador in the same year. Over the following years, Paul O’Grady’s TV adverts for Battersea helped the charity secure 2,163 new regular donors in 2016 who helped raise £141,460 for our dogs and cats over one year. There was even awards won. Awards collected by the series include 2013, 2014 Best Factual Entertainment (National Television Awards), 2013, 2014, 2015 Best Entertainment and Factual Lifestyle Show (TV Choice Awards), 2013, 2014, 2015 (TV Times Awards), 2014 (Television and Radio Industries Club), 2018 Special Recognition Award (National Television Awards). Battersea Chief Executive, Peter Laurie says, “To many, Paul O’Grady was the immensely popular TV and radio presenter and comedian who lit up their screens with his razor-sharp humour and perpetual generosity and warmth. Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centres. Paul will always be associated with Battersea and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.” “Paul had an extremely hands on approach as a Battersea Ambassador and has been fundamental in helping our charity to communicate important campaign messages. He was a champion for the underdog and would do anything to ensure all animals live a healthy and happy life. He will be dearly missed.” Paul O’Grady’s close association with Battersea began when the comedian began filming the Bafta-nominated ITV series Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs. Interviewed during the first series in September 2012, Paul said, “Hand on heart. This has been one of the nicest jobs I’ve ever had. Battersea is a magical place. People think it’s all doom and gloom but it’s not, it’s such a happy place. I’ve had a ball. It’s such an enriching place to work and I’m coming back. They can’t get rid of me. Once I became really involved, I’d go home and worry about the dogs. I’d be ringing friends saying, ‘I’ve found a lovely dog for you’. The aim of the game for me became to rehome these dogs. To show all the work that Battersea does but also, to get people interested. Genuine people who are looking for a dog, to come here. I’d like to see, at the end of the day, this place empty. All go off to nice homes. Hopefully, after watching the programmes, that what’s going to happen.” There’s no doubting that Paul’s influence has helped thousands of rescue animals find new homes. By spending time with these animals and showing their quirks and loveable qualities, he showed rescue animals really are the best pets. It was during the filming of the first series that Paul rehomed the first of his own Battersea rescues when he fell in love with his beloved Eddie, a Chihuahua Jack Russell cross puppy. Eddie was later joined on Paul’s Kent farm by Boycie, a Shihtzu in 2014, Conchita, a Maltese in 2015, Arfur, a Mongrel puppy in 2017, Nancy, a Mongrel puppy in 2020, and Sausage, a Wire-haired Dachshund in 2021. Battersea know that Paul’s dogs will continue to be loved and well cared for by his family and friends. Ensuring his dogs would be well looked after would have been of great importance to Paul. His dogs were everything to him and he would always be entertaining us with
with tales of their latest antics. Over a decade, Paul’s passion for all things dog came out in eleven series of Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs, set at Battersea. The ITV series picked up multiple awards over the years for its blend of laughter and tears. Paul met all manner of dogs – and the odd cat - visited children’s hospitals, Crufts, the homeless, and residential homes with his canine companions, and in the process helped Battersea and rescue centres nationwide find homes for thousands of homeless animals. Most recently, he joined Battersea’s Patron Her Majesty The Queen Consort to promote rescue animals in a Royal Special of ‘POGDOGS’ aired on 19 December 2022 to around three million viewers. Battersea’s Ali Taylor who appeared alongside Paul in the series says: “During filming of the series Paul met hundreds, if not thousands of dogs but never lost that infectious enthusiasm and interest in getting to know them all individually. During filming we’d be in fits of laughter but Paul’s passion for the dogs shone through, and I think that’s what made the series so popular all over the world. Viewers could see how genuinely he became attached to each and every dog. One minute he’d be fighting back tears at a desperately sad case, the next he’d be laughing while covered in dog slobber or mischievous puppies, but one thing is for certain, he’d deeply care about them all. He’d always say to us ‘that’s one more for me to worry about and keep me up at night.’” The immensely popular series was broadcast all over the world from Canada to Poland, New Zealand to Singapore, and as a result letters and emails of support come into Battersea from all corners of the world – some simply addressed ‘Paul O’Grady’. In 2018 the National Television Awards recognised the series impact on helping find homes for rescue centres nationwide, when it awarded Paul a Special Recognition Award. Peter adds, “Paul loved Battersea so much and we cannot thank him enough for everything he did for our charity and for rescue animals worldwide. We will forever be indebted to him for his endless generosity and support.” Paul’s funeral was held on the 20th of April 2023, The funeral took place in Aldington, the Kent village where O’Grady had lived for more than 20 years. O’Grady’s husband, Andre Portasio, arrived at St Rumwold’s church in a horse-drawn carriage with Conchita, one of their dogs, on his lap. A dog-shaped wreath guarded the coffin, a tribute to Buster, a regular on O’Grady’s TV show in the noughties, who died from cancer in 2009. A trio of puppies from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home greeted friends and family, with the celebrity chef Andi Oliver and Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay stopping to pet the dogs on their way in. Among the puppies was Ernie, who had met O’Grady several times during filming For the Love of Dogs, his ITV show about the animal shelter. It is no doubt the people and staff of Battersea, and the dogs and cats of the home will miss Paul deeply.
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PHOTOGRAPHER: CHESTER AND WAIN INSTAGRAM: @CHESHIREANDWAIN WEBSITE: WWW.CHESHIREANDWAIN.COM
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