Wiltshire Council's dog wardens given national award
Their dog walking scheme has been recognised by the RSPCA
The Dog Warden team at Wiltshire Council has been honoured with a national award by the RSPCA, for a dog walking service they provide.
They've been awarded an 'Innovator' prize as part of the RSPCA's PawPrints scheme, recognising local authorities and public bodies for their work in promoting animal welfare.
A volunteer dog walker scheme was set up by the Wiltshire Council team in 2021, with the aim of providing suitably trained people to exercise dogs as owners returned to workplaces after the pandemic.
Prospective volunteers need to have the correct insurance, suitable vehicles for transport, and adhere to a code of conduct to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the dogs in their care, and the wider public.
Lee Gingell, public affairs manager for local government at the RSPCA said:
“Wiltshire Council’s Dog Warden team proactively identified a pet-owning public need and delivered a scheme that not only provides the pet-owning public with reassurance, but also protects and promotes the welfare of the dogs.
“This unique service is little to the Council, but means lots to animals and pet owners.
“We are proud to recognise Wiltshire Council’s Dog Warden team by awarding the Innovator in Animal Welfare PawPrints Award. Wiltshire Council’s Dog Walker Scheme is a wonderful example of how local authorities can go above and beyond legal minimums to protect, promote and improve animal welfare - and at little-to-no cost.”
The RSPCA PawPrints scheme has handed out 73 awards this year - and has been running for the last 15 years.
It's credited with helping to improve animal welfare across the country.
Lee Gingell from the RSPCA said:
“The PawPrints awards are something the RSPCA is immensely proud of. We have been so impressed with the standard of entries to this year's awards. It’s always so rewarding to celebrate the winners and their inspiring initiatives and hear just what a huge impact their work has had on animal welfare locally.
“Local Authorities, housing providers, contingency planners and others play a huge role in the delivery of animal welfare; many of them doing incredible work in the face of steep challenges.
“Often this pioneering work is done quietly behind the scenes and remains unsung, but they really deserve to be applauded for changing the lives of not only animals, but local people too. PawPrints is all about recognising and celebrating these efforts.”