20 cats and dogs you can adopt in London right now

Last winter in the UK, around 20,000 animals were abandoned.

Statistics like this is one of the many reasons why the movement #AdoptDon'tShop is more important that ever (even Meghan Markle is a fan).

The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London houses around 7,000 discarded dogs and cats each year, all searching for a new home.

While Christmas is certainly the season of giving, giving these pets a new home is a big commitment and something that needs to be seriously considered before making a decision.

The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home told the Standard: “Battersea takes every enquiry about adopting a dog or cat over the Christmas period on a case by case basis. For many, the Christmas period can be a particularly busy time of year, with lots of noise and visitors, potentially making it an unsuitable time to bring a new pet into the home. However, those planning to have a quiet festive season could be in a good position to adopt a dog or cat, provided they have the right home and lifestyle for that individual animal.

“The charity would never recommend buying a dog or a cat as a surprise present, as getting a pet is a big, long-term commitment and something that should be thought through and discussed with the whole household.

“You can find out more about Battersea’s rehoming process, or if you’re not in a position to rehome, there are other ways of helping our animals this festive season on battersea.org.uk.”

Scroll through the gallery above to see a selection of the cats and dogs currently at Battersea and please contact Battersea Dogs & Cats Home if you would like to meet any of the animals, and visit their website for further details.

To contact Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, call 0843 509 4444 or email them at info@battersea.org.uk. battersea.org.uk/