Our Animal Welfare team is celebrating winning not one, not two, but four gold RSPCA Paw Prints Awards.
Published: Thursday, 5th September 2024
The council’s Animal Welfare team was awarded gold in four of the RSPCAs prestigious PawPrints categories:
1. Stray dog services: for effective care of stray dogs and promotion of responsible ownership.
2. Licensing of activities involving animals: for upholding high standards in animal welfare through strong enforcement and compliance in licensable activities.
3. Housing: for pet-friendly housing policies and support for responsible pet ownership among tenants.
4. Kennelling: for ensuring the highest welfare standards in kennelling facilities.
The RSPCA PawPrints Awards is the only scheme of its kind. It celebrates local authorities and public bodies for their pioneering work in animal welfare across England and Wales.
The council has secured gold in the Stray dogs and Kennelling categories, for the last three years. It is delighted to add further golds with its new entries into the Housing and Licensing categories.
Hounslow Council’s Animal Welfare team is staffed by experienced dog owners. They go over and above with their care for abandoned dogs. In recent years, Hounslow Council has secured retirement homes for elderly dogs such as Buster*, a 16-year-old abandoned Staffy.
The council’s Animal Welfare team also rehomes highly driven dogs like Dutch Herder Ranger**. Who now works as a search dog at ports on the south coast. The team also cares for many little dogs like Elton***. Terrified, having just lost everything he’d ever known, Elton simply shutdown. The team put in many hours earning his trust and getting Elton ready for rehoming.
In addition to being walked twice daily, Hounslow dogs have toys, games and activities to tire them out. These include sensory stimulation such as scent work training and mystery boxes. Where treats are buried in materials with different textures and smells.
The council also licences kennels, catteries, dog breeders, pet shops, exhibitors, and even zoos. Making sure they all meet high welfare standards. The Animal Welfare team advises council tenants and distributes muzzles required by law, to lower income families.
Cllr Raghwinder Siddhu, Cabinet Member for Public Safety, Regulatory Services and Enforcement said,
We are proud of our team's inspirational work and grateful for this recognition from the RSPCA.
Our Animal welfare team is truly dedicated to the health and happiness of abandoned dogs in Hounslow. Much credit is due to them personally, for their success in rehoming stray dogs.
This award highlights our ongoing efforts to deliver world-class animal welfare services. It underscores our continuous efforts to provide exceptional animal welfare services.
Lee Gingell, public affairs manager at the RSPCA, said: "We are thrilled to recognise Hounslow Council with its four Golds, in this year's RSPCA PawPrints Awards.
Their commitment to animal welfare is truly commendable and reflects the high standards that the PawPrints awards aim to celebrate. By winning this award, Hounslow Council has demonstrated outstanding dedication to protecting, promoting and enhancing animal welfare, and we hope their achievements inspire others to strive for excellence in this vital area.
