Battersea has revealed that Jack Russell terriers — a favourite of the Queen Consort — are among the most popular breeds rehomed at their centres.
Camilla rehomed Beth and Bluebell from Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home in 2011 and 2012 respectively, and became their Royal Patron in 2017.
Last summer, at a celebration for the 160th birthday of Battersea, Camilla said: “You have all seen how easy it is to go there and come out with an animal, I’ve done it twice.
“There are, due to Covid, a lot of dogs and cats now at Battersea looking for homes.
“So, if I could appeal to everybody listening and all your friends, if they want a dog or a cat, to go along to Battersea and find a friend for life.”
And in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, Camilla spoke of her love of dogs, saying: “The nice thing about dogs is you can sit them down, you could have a nice long conversation, you could be cross, you could be sad, and they just sit looking at you, wagging their tail.”
The royal also spoke of meeting Beth and Bluebell at Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home: “Along I went to Battersea, and Beth appeared, and she had just been moved from pillar to post and dumped.
“We thought it would be nice for her to have a friend. They found [Bluebell] two or three weeks later, wandering about in woods, no hair on her, covered in sores, virtually dead. And they nursed her back to life and her hair grew again. She’s very sweet, but a tiny bit neurotic, shall we say.”
And it appears that Camilla isn’t the only dog lover adopting Jack Russell terriers, as they were in the top five dog breeds adopted from the rehoming centre.
Rebecca Verne, rehoming and welfare manager at Battersea, said: “We see many different dogs of all shapes and sizes coming into our centres every day, including many Jack Russell terriers who are happy, energetic dogs who love spending quality time with their human companions.
“At Battersea, rescue is our favourite breed, so it’s fantastic to see rescue animals in the spotlight in the royal household.
“Not only does this shine a light on how lovely Jack Russell terriers are but, more importantly, how great rehoming a rescue animal is. They may not be perfect, but they are definitely worth it!”
One of the Jack Russells adopted from Battersea is four-month-old Dustin, who was found abandoned on a bridge with a severe skin condition.
But Battersea nursed him back to health, and transformed him from a timid terrier into a bouncy, charming puppy.
And it wasn’t long before Dustin found his forever family, with Paul and Emma.
They said: “Since we brought him home, Dustin has settled in so well. He’s such an endearing, playful character; he loves to play fetch and is happy to spend hours in the garden with us chasing and returning his tennis balls and squeaky toys.
“He is gradually putting on more weight and his fur is growing back beautifully with lots of pampering and shampoo baths.”
They added: “It’s been so rewarding to see Dustin’s progress and we are so thankful to Battersea for taking the time to care for him and being so helpful throughout the rehoming process.
“We didn’t come looking for a Jack Russell terrier, but Dustin definitely chose us, we couldn’t imagine our lives without him now.”
In 2022, Battersea cared for more than 2,000 dogs, and there are currently dozens of dogs looking for their forever home.
For more information about how to rehome an animal like Dustin, please visit: https://www.battersea.org.uk/
