LIPHOOK resident Ali Taylor has beaten thousands of entrants to be crowned Petplan Animal Charity Employee of the Year.

Ali has spent 25 years working at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home and is a passionate advocate outside of the charity, spending much of her time working with other rescue organisations and campaigning for the Staffordshire bull terrier breed.

Now Ali’s hard work has been nationally recognised after beating thousands of people across the country to the title, and she was crowned Animal Charity Employee of the Year at the Petplan and ADCH Animal Charity Awards 2017.

Ali picked up her prestigious award at the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) conference and was presented with the prize by one of the judges, Claire Bessant, from Interventional Cat Care.

Ali said: “I didn’t even know I’d been nominated for this award so it was a wonderful surprise. I’ve met some amazing people throughout my 25 years working at Battersea and other rescue organisations – many of whom have become friends.

“I’ve got a really strong team and there’s many people who really do deserve a big pat on the back for doing a fantastic job, not just me.”

As Battersea’s head of canine behaviour and training, Ali has owned more than 20 Battersea dogs, and has fostered more than 700 others.

She also established the charity’s working dogs programme, after realising not all dogs are suitable for everyday rehoming, but could thrive as working sheep dogs, security dogs or guarding dogs. The programme successfully rehomes around 100 dogs every year.

Deputy chief executive and director of operations at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home Peter Laurie said: “Ali isn’t just one of the most recognisable faces of Battersea – she’s its beating heart.

“She’s on the front line at Battersea and during her 25 years here she’s helped thousands of the country’s most challenging and vulnerable dogs. She’ll do all she can to help any dog that comes into our care and she’s always going the extra mile.

“It’s wonderful to see the incredible work Ali does every day being recognised.”