Ilana Dekel

Please help me support Battersea

I’m taking part in Walk for Rescue, Battersea's dog walking challenge. Throughout October, I’ll be walking 30 km with Bruce by my side.

Battersea helps dogs and cats by giving them the care they need and finding them new homes. They also help pet owners make better choices, give training advice, and work to change laws to improve animal welfare. They even support other rescue centres because they want to be there for every dog and cat in need, wherever they are.

The reason I’m supporting Battersea and donating every month is because I considered leaving Bruce at Battersea. I got Bruce with my ex-partner, and when our relationship ended, I was told that I either take Bruce with me, or my ex would take him to a shelter. I was given one week to figure out what to do. At that time, Bruce was only six months old, and I didn’t know if I could take care of him on my own.

I looked into shelters, and the first one I found was Battersea. I was really impressed by their facilities, and I could see that they take great care of the dogs and help them find good homes. It felt like a safe option if I had to leave Bruce.

But when I thought about saying goodbye to Bruce and leaving him there, it broke my heart. It’s been almost a year now, but thinking about that day still brings tears to my eyes. In the end, I decided to keep him and find a way to manage.

Now, I think about all the people who had to leave their dogs at a shelter because they had no other choice, and I can’t imagine how hard that must have been.

This walk and my donations are for all the dogs, the owners who had to make tough choices, and the people at Battersea who care for them until they find a new, loving home.