Donations to the Battersea Dogs & Casts Home have reached £100,000 after the death of Paul O’Grady, who was an ambassador for the charity.

The organisation was long dear to Paul’s heart and it previously featured on his show Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs.

The beloved comedian died aged 67 ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on March 28, with his death announced by his husband Andre Portasio. 

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home set up a tribute fund in Paul’s name, saying he will ‘always be associated’ with the charity.

In a statement, they said: ‘Battersea joins the nation in mourning the loss of Paul O’Grady – an entertainment legend and much-loved Ambassador to our charity.

Tribute: Donations to the Battersea Dogs & Casts Home have reached £100,000 after the death of Paul O’Grady, who was an ambassador for the charity

Good cause: The organisation was long dear to Paul’s heart and it previously featured on his show Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs

‘We’d like to extend our deepest sympathies to Paul’s family and friends. To millions Paul O’Grady is the popular TV and radio presenter and comedian who lit up their screens with his razor-sharp humour and perpetual generosity and warmth.

‘Battersea will forever remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with the biggest heart, who fell in love with every dog he met at our centres. 

‘Paul will always be associated with Battersea, and we are truly saddened to have lost such a true friend and huge part of our charity.

‘Paul loved Battersea so much and we cannot thank him enough for everything he did for our charity and for rescue animals worldwide. 

‘We will forever be indebted to him for his endless generosity and support.’

Andre shared a new post on Instagram on Thursday evening, two days after the beloved TV star died at the age of 67.

Paul’s husband, 41, shared the final photo of the couple together, taken during what would be their last holiday in January.

‘In time I hope to write to everyone individually and thank you for all posts, messages, phone calls, emails, cards and flowers of support,’ Andre told fans.

Charity: Battersea Dogs & Cats Home set up a tribute fund in Paul’s name , saying he will ‘always be associated’ with the charity

They said: ‘Paul loved Battersea so much and we cannot thank him enough for everything he did for our charity and for rescue animals worldwide’ 

‘I much appreciate you all taking the time to reach out. I’m so very touched and I’m sure Paul would be too!

‘Browsing for a picture I found the last picture we ever took together. Unbeknownst to us back in January this would be our last ever holiday together.’

Tributes poured in for the legendary presenter and radio star after his partner shared that he had passed away ‘unexpectedly but peacefully’ on Tuesday night.

The charity also said they were ‘overwhelmed and touched’ following a surge in public donations after Paul’s death.

Chief Executive Paul Laurie told the Mirror they had been inundated with letters and messages of support.

In his statement announcing Paul’s death, his husband Andre said: ‘It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening.

‘We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss.

‘He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion.’

‘I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.’

Couple: Paul’s husband Andre Portasio, 41, recently shared the final photo of the couple together, taken during what would be their last holiday in January

O’Grady and Portasio were married during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 .

O’Grady had been set to return to the airwaves next month to host a one-off Easter Sunday radio show on Boom Radio.

And he was performing right until the end – taking to the stage as Ms Hannigan in Annie at the Edinburgh Playhouse.

He became a household name in the early noughties , known for his wit and love of animals, and hosted a string of television programmes including his self-titled daytime chat show, The Paul O’Grady Show, which began airing in 2004.

He also took over the reins from Blind Date’s long-running presenter and his close friend Cilla Black, who died in 2015, to host the Channel 5 reboot of the show in 2017. And he fronted Blankety Blank, as well as ITV’s award-winning For The Love Of Dogs.

The father-of-one’s cause of death wasn’t immediately known, but he had previously spoken of surviving heart attacks in 2002, 2006 and 2014, and also kidney failure . He also had a debiltating Covid battle that left him unable to work for two months.