He spent a lifetime giving stray dogs a voice, a lap, and a forever home. And even when his own voice fell silent, Paul O’Grady made sure the barking never would.

On March 28, 2023, Britain lost its cheekiest, kindest champion when the legendary comedian, presenter, and drag icon Lily Savage died unexpectedly at 67. The nation wept. Battersea’s rescue dogs howled. And somewhere in the rainbow-lit chaos of heaven, Paul probably rolled his eyes and said, “Stop blubbering, I’m not gone – I’ve just got better lighting.”

Now, two and a half years later, the contents of his will have been revealed – and they are every bit as magnificent as the man himself.

Paul O’Grady left a staggering £500,000 (approximately $660,000) directly to Battersea Dogs & Cats Home – the very rescue centre that became his second home, his passion project, and the beating heart of his beloved ITV series For the Love of Dogs.

That’s not loose change. That’s life-changing, life-saving money.

The Legacy That Keeps on Wagging

The donation – one of the largest single gifts Battersea has ever received from an individual – will fund:

Medical care for thousands of abandoned pets
New kennels and catteries at their Kent rehoming centre
Lifelong support for dogs with complex behavioural or health needs
And crucially, the continuation of the “Paul O’Grady Rehoming Wing” that bears his name

Because of course it does.

When Battersea opened a brand-new state-of-the-art rehoming centre in 2023, they quietly named the entire dog wing after him. Paul, being Paul, pretended to be mortified (“I’m not dead yet, you ghouls!”) – but secretly loved it. Now his money guarantees that wing will stay open, warm, and full of second chances for decades to come.

The Man Who Never Met a Stray He Didn’t Love

Paul’s love affair with Battersea began in 2012 when ITV asked if he’d like to film a one-off documentary. He thought he was signing up for a bit of light entertainment.

He left with a broken heart and a bulldog named Sausage.

Over 11 series and 112 episodes of For the Love of Dogs, Paul bottle-fed orphaned puppies, cradled dying dogs in his arms, sobbed unashamedly when they crossed the Rainbow Bridge, and celebrated like a proud dad every time one walked out with a new family.

He adopted five Battersea dogs himself – including the infamous Sausage (who famously photobombed the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee coverage) – and fostered countless others. His Kent farmhouse became a chaotic, joyous sanctuary of rescued chihuahuas, bichons, and one-eyed shih-tzus who ruled the sofa like furry dictators.

He once said: “I don’t care if they’ve got three legs, no eyes, or bite like a crocodile – every dog deserves a home. And if nobody else wants them, I bloody well do.”

The Final Bow That Broke Britain All Over Again

When news of the £500,000 bequest broke on December 3, 2025, social media did what it always does when Paul trends: it sobbed, laughed, and shared clips of him cradling trembling staffies in his arms while calling them “my little broken biscuits.”

Battersea’s CEO Peter Laurie could barely speak through tears: “This money will save thousands of lives. But more than that – every dog that walks through these doors for the next twenty years will feel Paul’s love. He never really left us.”

Paul’s husband Andre Portasio, who has quietly continued his animal welfare work, added: “He always said, ‘When I go, make sure the dogs are all right.’ Well, darling – they’re more than all right. They’re blooming thriving because of you.”

The Postscript That Says Everything

Tucked into the legal paperwork was one final Paul flourish – a handwritten note attached to the bequest:

“To Battersea – keep the kettle on, the treats flowing, and never, ever give up on the ones nobody else wants. Tell them all Lily sent you. Love forever, Paul (and the mongrels) xx”

Somewhere tonight, a nervous rescue dog who’s never known kindness will curl up in a warm bed paid for by a man in a blonde wig who made an entire nation fall in love with the underdog.

His body may be gone. But his heart? Still beating loudly in every wag, every purr, every second-chance tail that will ever wag again.

Thank you, Paul. The dogs will never forget you. And neither will we.