Mary Tealby (1801-1865)

Wikipedia

Mary Tealby was the founder of the Home for Lost and Starving Dogs, now known as Battersea Dogs Home. Tealby was upset by the number of stray dogs in London, especially Islington where she lived. The dog’s home was opened in 1860 and was located in stables behind 15 and 16 Hollingsworth Street (now occupied by Freightliners Farm and Paradise Park).

Tealby was a kind-hearted and generous woman who grieved for the suffering of animals, most commonly lost by their owners. She was strict that the home was a temporary residence for stray dogs, not a hospital or a long-term place to stay. Owners could collect their lost dogs from the premises, and new owners could adopt those who had stayed too long.

Tealby not only reminds us to have compassion, but she also reminds us to correct our mistakes, and take responsibility for the animals in our lives.