The RSPCA has praised public bodies across England and Wales, as it hands out 70 awards to 50 organisations going “above and beyond” for animal welfare – offering a “lifeline” for many animals amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Local authorities, housing providers and contingency planners across England and Wales have been praised for the services they deliver for animals; and recognised as part of the RSPCA’s prestigious PawPrints recognition scheme.
The scheme – first established in 2008 – is now entering its 15th year; and splits awards into five categories – stray dog services, housing, contingency planning, animal activity licensing, and kenneling. The scheme aims to recognise bodies delivering services beyond statutory minimums.
Fifty-three of the awards handed out this year are to the gold standard – the highest level of recognition for service provision.
Criteria for the gold PawPrints awards include proactive work to encourage responsible pet ownership, discounted microchips for pets in the social housing sector and partnerships with local animal welfare charities – all steps likely to be crucial in helping pet owners through the cost of living crisis.
Winners include Cardiff Council’s Cardiff Dogs Home – who have partnered with ‘The Rescue Hotel’ charity to recently build a new health centre providing low-cost vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, neutering procedures and dental care for dogs. This year, the local authority has been recognised for their stray dog, kennelling and contingency planning services.
Cardiff Council cabinet member with responsibility for Cardiff Dogs Home, Cllr Dan De’Ath, said: “All the dogs we look after deserve the highest possible standard of care and we’re delighted that work we’re doing in partnership with our charity partners The Rescue Hotel has been recognised with these PawPrints awards.
“Owning a dog isn’t cheap, and as the cost of living crisis deepens the preventative work we do is becoming increasingly important – ultimately we want all Cardiff’s dogs to live in homes where they are well cared for and loved. Helping reduce the cost of owning a dog by providing essential veterinary services at more affordable prices, means we can help keep more dogs and their owners together.”
Croydon Council is another of the 50 winners – recognised for their regular proactive work to encourage responsible pet ownership. In partnership with the RSPCA and the Police, Croydon Council have held regular events on a range of issues, particularly microchipping and neutering events, offering health, wellbeing, and training advice to pet owners. This year, Croydon Council has been awarded the Stray Dog Services PawPrints at gold level.
Amid the challenging economic climate, the RSPCA is “thrilled” with the level of engagement with the scheme.
PawPrints is the only award scheme across England and Wales to recognise and celebrate good practice which drives forward higher animal welfare standards. The scheme has the support of the Local Government Association, the Welsh Local Government Association and the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, among others.
Fifty-seven of the accolades have gone to 42 organisations in England, with a further 13 gongs handed out in Wales to eight organisations.
Lee Gingell, the RSPCA’s public affairs manager for local government, said: “Despite the difficult climate, we’re absolutely over the moon to see 50 public bodies across England and Wales picking up PawPrint awards this year.
“It is a tough time for many pet owners, as the cost of living crisis continues to bite – so we know many of the schemes and procedures that PawPrints recognises will be more important than ever; so we are thrilled to see such high engagement with the scheme yet again.
“From programmes to encourage responsible pet ownership, to discounted microchipping and policies to protect animals during emergency situations, there’s so much great work that goes on behind the scenes from public bodies – and, in this climate, these services are so often a lifeline for pets and their owners.
“Too often, this work is unsung and doesn’t get the credit it deserves. PawPrints is all about shouting from the rooftops – that 50 public bodies, across England and Wales, are going above and beyond for animals; looking way past statutory minimums because it’s the right thing to do – for humans and animals.”
The full list of winners for England and Wales is:
Contingency Planning
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Gold
London Borough of Redbridge
Gold
London Borough of Camden
Gold
Monmouthshire County Council
Gold
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Gold
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Bronze
Cardiff Council
Bronze
Stroud District Council
Bronze
Leeds City Council
Bronze
Westminster City Council
Bronze
London Borough of Hackney
Bronze
Housing
Leeds City Council
Gold
London Borough of Wandsworth
Gold
Anchor Housing
Gold
Dacorum Borough Council
Gold
Westminster City Council
Gold
Merthyr Valley Homes
Bronze
Rapport Housing and Care
Bronze
Runnymede Borough Council
Bronze
Kennelling
London Borough of Hounslow
Gold
Hope Rescue
Gold
Newport City Council
Gold
Bath Cats and Dogs Home (BCDH)
Gold
Cardiff Council
Silver
Vale of Glamorgan, Shared Regulatory Services
Bronze
Licensing
London Borough of Newham
Gold
Westminster City Council
Gold
Bristol City Council
Gold
Vale of Glamorgan, Shared Regulatory Services
Gold
City of London
Gold
Medway Council
Gold
Winchester City Council
Gold
Stroud District Council
Silver
Guildford Borough Council
Bronze
Swale Borough Council
Bronze
East Hertfordshire District Council
Bronze
Stray Dogs
Cardiff Council
Gold
Stroud District Council
Gold
NW Leicestershire District Council
Gold
London Borough of Wandsworth
Gold
Luton Borough Council
Gold
London Borough of Hackney
Gold
London Borough of Newham
Gold
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
Gold
Public Protection Partnership (West Berks and Bracknell Forest)
Gold
Westminster City Council
Gold
Forest of Dean District Council
Gold
Hartlepool Council
Gold
Wiltshire County Council
Gold
Dacorum Council
Gold
Chelmsford City Council
Gold
Animal Warden Services – Breckland District Council, Broadland Council, South Norfolk Council, North Norfolk Council & Great Yarmouth Council
Gold
Kingston-upon-Hull City Council
Gold
Cornwall Council
Gold
Gravesham Borough Council
Gold
Croydon Council
Gold
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Gold
Wrexham County Borough Council
Gold
Vale of Glamorgan, Shared Regulatory Services
Gold
London Borough of Hounslow
Gold
Charnwood Borough Council
Gold
Medway Council
Gold
Wirral Metropolitan Council
Gold
Portsmouth County Council
Gold
Swale Borough Council
Gold
Winchester City Council
Gold
Newport City Council
Gold
Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council
Gold
Other awards
Andy Newnham (Animal Welfare Officer), London Borough of Hounslow
Special Recognition
Animal Licensing Wales/Monmouthshire County Council
Innovator in Animal Welfare
