Pollyanna enjoys a Dog’s Dinner!

Pollyanna joined a host of other high profile guests, animal lovers and celebrity supporters – including actress Rula Lenska (above left) – at the Collars and Coats Ball – the glamorous gala evening which is the biggest annual fundraising event for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, generating much-needed income to care for their residents.

This year, the gala paid homage to the golden age of classic cinema with a unique ‘Hollywoof’ theme. Battersea dogs donned bow ties to line the Red Carpet at the venue in Battersea Park to welcome guests, including His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent and Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent and event hosts Paul O’Grady and Amanda Holden. Throughout the evening, the theme continued with Battersea’s own silent movie, performances from Joss Stone and the Rat Pack, dancing dogs and even recreations of famous films with canine stars decorating the venue!

Male supermodel David Gandy, is an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. The Dolce & Gabbana model told Anna-Louise “I fostered a black Labrador from Battersea recently for a few weeks. Sadly I can’t have a dog full-time because of my schedule.” Apparently he gets around this by popping into the home for some petting time. “He can’t keep away” CEO of the charity Claire Horton said. “He ends up staying for hours, sitting in the kennels and stroking the dogs.” Pollyanna and Anna-Louise enjoyed sharing a table with choreographer and former ‘Strictly’ judge Arlene Philips and her daughter Alanna, as well as Olympic Gold medallist rower Katherine Grainger.

It costs over £18m to run Battersea each year, and with no Government funding towards the running of the Home, the Collars & Coats Gala Ball is vital in both raising funds and increasing awareness about their work to give a second chance to lost, abandoned and unwanted animals. Last year, they helped nearly 9,000 dogs and cats to find new homes.
Find out more about their work at http://www.battersea.org.uk