A COUNCIL’S street wardens are as good as gold according to the RSPCA after scooping an award for the fifth year running.
The Forest of Dean Council’s team has received the Gold Stray Dog Footprint award for the fifth year running – which also means that they qualify for the prestigious Platinum version of the honour.
As a ‘thank you’ from the RSPCA, the wardens have been invited to a free winners’ reception in London on November 27 to celebrate their achievement.
Cllr Paul Hiett, the council’s Cabinet member for community safety, said: “The wardens take a very proactive stance in dealing with stray dogs across the district, and they also continue to maintain excellent animal welfare standards.
“This Platinum Stray Dog Footprint award recognises the great job that they do – in partnership with Sling Kennels and the Forest of Dean Dog Rescue who help dealing with and rehoming the strays – and I am sure that many residents will be delighted to hear about their success.”
Monmouthshire County Council also received the Gold Contingency Planning Footprint award for pet rescue and evacuation planning in the event of an emergency.
Rachel Williams, Senior Parliamentary Advisor for the RSPCA, added: “The RSPCA’s PawPrints are the only awards that recognise the hard work of local authorities, social housing providers and public sector bodies across England and Wales, to improve animal welfare.”
The awards are supported by the Local Government Association, along with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
More details about the PawPrints Awards, including a full list of the winners, are available at www.politicalanimal.org.uk/cawfhome