Who has the waggiest tail? News Shopper investigates the canine goings on at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Brands Hatch site

"I have a reputation for the dogs licking my head" - Tim Liddiard struggles to answer my questions as he is mobbed by an enthusiastic pooch.

The rehoming and welfare assistant helps care for the 50 dogs and 30 cats at Battersea’s satellite site in Crowhurst Lane, Brands Hatch.

The 46-year-old walks me past the kennels, Tim greets each dog by name as they clamour to get close to him.

He shows me the kitchen where all the pet food arrives through donations and there are timetables and observation charts mapping the dogs’ behaviour.  

There is even a chill-out room with a sofa and a radio to replicate the comforts of home for the dogs.

Tim says: "Their worlds have just been turned upside down so we try to keep a peaceful environment and reduce their anxiety. 

"Dogs from the Battersea site in London are often sent here if they’re feeling particularly anxious so they can run about in the countryside."

Outside Tim walks me through the fields, a woodlands trail and paddocks where the dogs can run around - by themselves or in a ‘play group’ of a few dogs.

He says: "I took a Welsh Springer out in the long grass here recently and you could see the stress visibly melting away from him. After running about he’d come and sit on my lap.

"We keep the names they’re bought in with unless we think they’re unsuitable - something like ‘Satan’ for example."

We take Charlie and Tula for a run round one of the paddocks. 

Charlie, eight, is enthusiastic but is clearly in an amorous mood with Pete, who does his best to walk one-legged.

He says, as he is getting covered in adoring slime trails from Charlie: "I come home each night covered in slobber - my wife will refuse to go near me - and I have a reputation for the dogs licking my head.

"I volunteered for two years as a dog socialiser before taking on a fulltime role here for three years. 

"Before I worked in sales in the city and chased money but it wasn’t fulfilling. Now I feel blessed to do a job like this."

Ten of the 21 staff members at the site started off as volunteers.

Welfare and rehoming manager Michelle Bevan ditched her IT job in the City for a job at Battersea.

The 34-year-old tells New Shopper: "We try not to judge when we take animals in." 

"More often than not, it’s a case of the animals being spoiled and being too fat so we have to put them on diets.

"There are mishaps. Occasionally dogs learn how to let themselves out of their kennels and we find them running about the place in the morning. 

"A few months ago we had stray pigs run through into our fields and some horses occasionally break through too. There’s always something going on."

Could you help Tula or Charlie?

“Tula is a four year old Canary Dog (a type of Mastiff). She’s been at Brands Hatch since January. Her owner brought her in because she wasn’t getting on well with the other dogs in their household.

"We’ve found her to be great with other dogs, although assertive. We’d love for someone with mastiff breed experience to give her a nice home.”  

“Charlie is an eight-year-old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel who was donated because his owners were moving abroad.

"He loves people and is very affectionate but does needs committed new owners who can help him socialise with other dogs as he is very vocal with them."

The site is celebrating its 15th birthday with events later this month.

Visit battersea.org.uk/brandshatch