Donations to Battersea Cats and Dogs Home have surpassed £200,000 in the days since TV star Paul O’Grady died at the age of 67.
O’Grady, who debuted as his famous drag alter-ego Lily Savage in 1978, died ‘unexpectedly but calmly’ last week. Many UK showbiz personalities, including Carol Vorderman, Lorraine Kelly, and the Royal Family, paid homage after the news broke.
Donations to Battersea Cats and Dogs Home surpassed £100,000 following O’Grady’s passing, with the home being a choice of O’Grady’s throughout his life. In 2012, the famous actor and presenter who hosted For the Love of Dogs on ITV became an ambassador for the London Animal Home.
Episodes of the show, which started in 2012 and was preparing for a new season when O’Grady died, were also shot at the house.
The home issued a statement in his honor, calling him as a “devoted animal lover and champion for the underdog.”
A ‘tribute fund’ was then established, inviting members of the public to contribute; it collected more than £100k in 48 hours and surpassed £200k on Monday.
According to a story released by The Mirror, donations reached the new milestone after the paper notified people to the fund over the weekend.
In a statement to PA, the home’s chief executive Peter Laurie said: ‘Over the coming weeks and months, Battersea will be finding the best way to pay tribute to our wonderful friend and ambassador, the late, great Paul O’Grady MBE.’
He continued: ‘We have been overwhelmed and touched by the countless letters, calls, emails and messages of support.
‘We will be looking to find a suitably fitting way to remember the profound impact Paul had at Battersea and the rescue animal sector.’
One of the pioneering LGBT+ icon’s closest pals has since disclosed the star’s funeral desires, pledging “celebration and laughter.”
‘He just urged us to have a nice time – he’d detest it if everyone was mawkish and morose,’ Amanda Mealing, whose sons O’Grady was godfather to, added. He’d just say, “I don’t care, I won’t be here!”‘
