Battersea welcomed members of the England Women’s Cricket Team to its London centre this week, as players Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer, Alice Capsey and Tilly Corteen-Coleman swapped the pitch for pooches during a well-earned day off from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
Ahead of England’s semi-final against South Africa on Thursday, the players took some time to unwind with a visit to the charity, where they met several of Battersea’s residents, including gentle 12-week-old Bull Mastiff cross Liora, who quickly became the centre of attention. Liora, who is currently looking for a home, charmed the players with plenty of cuddles and photo opportunities.
The players also spent time in Battersea’s cattery, where kitten season is currently in full swing, helping to socialise some of the centre’s youngest residents. Lauren was won over by 13-week-old tripod kitten Hopper, whose boundless confidence and playful personality prove that life on three legs doesn’t slow her down. Meanwhile, Tilly enjoyed spending time with 14-week-old Fig, a lively black-and-white kitten who loves nothing more than chasing toys before settling down for some fuss.
England all-rounder Dani Gibson said: “What a treat it was to be able to visit the animals at Battersea Dogs and Cats home and see for ourselves the amazing work they do there.
“It was the perfect way to spend some time between games at the World Cup, meeting some gorgeous dogs and playing with some of the sweetest kittens. Several of us have dogs and cats of our own so it was a real joy to be able to show the love to the animals we met.”
England spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman said: “We had the best time visiting Battersea. I love animals, so it was a privilege to see so many cute dogs and cats and even have a little play. They are so well cared for by Battersea, and it was a great thing for us to do during the tournament.”
Lucy Hastings, Director of Operations at Battersea, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome members of the England Women’s Cricket Team to Battersea during such an exciting time in their World Cup campaign. We’ll certainly be cheering them on from just down the road at Thursday’s semi-final.”
