Dog wardens in West Dorset, North Dorset and Weymouth and Portland have won recognition from the RSPCA for providing a ‘gold standard’ in animal welfare for their stray dog service.
North Dorset District Council, West Dorset District Council and Weymouth & Portland Borough Councils’ dog wardens have achieved a 2018 Gold Stray Dog Footprint from the leading animal charity.
This is the third year running that they have achieved the award, which is part of the RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints (CAWF) Awards. The award recognises that the three councils’ stray dog service provides excellent animal welfare.
Cllr Alan Thacker, community safety & access portfolio holder for West Dorset District Council, said: “Our dog wardens deserve this award and I am delighted that their excellent work has been recognised. They do so much more than deal with fouling and it is great that the RSPCA has recognised their commitment to animal welfare.”
Cllr Mike Byatt, community safety brief holder for Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, said: “I am pleased that the work of our dog wardens has been recognised nationally. Their work is vital for our community and this award is very well-deserved.”
Members of the dog warden team will be attending the CAWF Winners Reception in London on 27 November to celebrate their achievements alongside the other winners.
The Award
The RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints (CAWF) Awards cover four areas that have some impact on animal welfare. They are:
stray dog services
housing
contingency planning
animal establishments licensing
Each Footprint has three levels – bronze, silver and gold – which carry progressively more demanding criteria. Successful entrants will receive a CAWF gold, silver or bronze logo to use on their organisation’s website and letterheads, subject to terms of usage, as well as a certificate.
