We’re thrilled to share one of our most meaningful recent projects, a large-scale installation at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home using our flagship K9 Turf Premier grass.
This wasn’t just any job. We transformed one of their bigger outdoor compounds, a space that gets constant, heavy use from up to 30 dogs every single day. With that level of activity, running, playing, exploring, and everything else dogs do, the surface needed to be exceptionally tough yet kind to paws. K9 Turf Premier was the clear choice: built specifically to handle intense daily wear while staying clean, fresh, and completely hygienic.
Battersea is one of the UK’s best-known animal charities. They rescue dogs (and cats) from all sorts of challenging situations across the country, giving them safety, medical care, love, and a real chance at a happy future. On average they look after around 240 dogs at any one time, supported by about 650 dedicated staff and over 1,000 incredible volunteers. Creating comfortable, safe outdoor areas for the dogs to stretch their legs, socialise, and simply be dogs is incredibly important to their work, and we’re honoured to have played a small part in that.
High-traffic dog environments like rescue centres, boarding kennels, day-care facilities, and similar setups benefit hugely from a surface designed with animals in mind. Cold concrete can be harsh, traditional latex-backed turf often traps urine and smells, and natural grass quickly turns into a muddy mess under constant paws. K9 Turf changes that completely. It works brilliantly indoors or out, drains fast, resists odours, and is straightforward to keep clean, making life easier for staff and much more pleasant for the dogs.
For big commercial projects like this one (and others we’ve done at places such as Gatwick, Felixstowe and Dover Border Force sites, Marham RAF compounds, and various kennel setups), we always start with the same careful groundwork approach. It’s a method we’ve refined over years to make sure the turf performs at its absolute best, no matter how much use it gets.
We begin with a solid 20 mm layer of clean limestone, then add and compact a 6 mm limestone topping to form a level, stable base. This creates excellent natural drainage that works hand-in-hand with the grass, letting liquids pass through quickly so nothing sits and causes problems.
In especially demanding spots, like some of the Dover HMRC areas we’ve worked on, we add our interlocking grid system (1×1 pieces fitted together like a puzzle) or, for maximum durability under very heavy traffic, our ProFlow grid. These extras speed up drainage even further and help the surface stay resilient and long-lasting.
Once the base is perfect, we lay the K9 Turf directly on top, secure it with pins, bond joins using tape, glue, and galvanised nails, then brush up the fibres. Finally, we bevel and trim the edges for a smooth, professional transition to any surrounding concrete or paving.
The finished compound now gives the Battersea dogs a safe, comfortable outdoor space to play, exercise, and go to the toilet, all away from their daily walks. No more muddy paws trailing through indoor areas, no constant scrubbing of tracked-in dirt, and no lingering smells. Staff can focus on care rather than cleaning, and the dogs enjoy a clean, paw-friendly surface that feels good and stays hygienic.
What sets K9 Turf apart in these high-use situations is our patented ProFlow knitted backing. Unlike traditional perforated backings that can trap urine and odours, it dramatically improves drainage, often by up to 400% keeping the turf drier, cleaner, and fresher even when facilities are busy. Clients tell us it gives them real peace of mind knowing the dogs in their care are on a safe, odour-free surface.
To help the turf stay in top condition long-term, we offer a tailored maintenance service. For typical home gardens we usually suggest once a year, but in busy commercial or rescue settings like Battersea we recommend visits every 3–4 months. This keeps the surface performing perfectly.
We use our own specially formulated products, including the K9 Turf Bio Enzyme Artificial Grass Cleaner, a powerful, bacteria-enriched solution that safely breaks down waste, neutralises odours, controls ammonia, and is gentle on dogs and cats. For tougher spots we have our Last Resort High-Strength Enzyme Cleaner, the most concentrated option for deep cleaning when needed.
Projects like this one at Battersea remind us why we do what we do. When rescue organisations choose K9 Turf, they’re choosing a surface that supports animal welfare, reduces daily workload, and creates happier, healthier spaces for dogs waiting for their forever homes.
If you run a kennel, rescue centre, day-care, or any dog-focused facility and want to explore how K9 Turf could make a real difference, drop us a line. We’d love to chat and show you what’s possible.
