Welsh Council Wins RSPCA Welfare Award

Cardiff Council and Cardiff Dogs Home have been awarded a prestigious ‘RSPCA Innovator in Animal Welfare Award’ as part of the first ever RSPCA’S Community Animal Welfare Footprints 2008.

The RSPCA has unveiled the first ever winners of the pioneering new awards scheme for providers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty in protecting animal welfare.

Cardiff Council and Cardiff Dogs Home scooped the title of the first Wales RSPCA’s Innovator in Animal Welfare Award (local authorities in Wales section) after judges said they provided a model of good practice for any city to use in tackling the issue of stray dogs and for demonstrating an innovative approach to its work in improving animal welfare.

During 2007 Cardiff Dogs Home in partnership with the Dogs Trust has provided free neutering for 468 dogs and a free microchip for more than 800 animals.

The Innovator Awards are run alongside the Community Animal Welfare Footprints scheme. Cardiff Dogs Home has also been recognised for a silver footprint award for Stray Dogs within this scheme.

Councillor Margaret Jones, Executive Member for Environment said: “I am delighted that we have won this prestigious award from the RSPCA. Winning the Innovators in Animal Welfare Award is a fantastic
achievement for our staff. It recognises the high quality service that they provide in tackling the issue of stray dogs in the City and our commitment to animal welfare in general.”

Piers Claughton, the RSPCA’s Senior Local Government Adviser, said: “The aim of the Community Animal Welfare Footprints is to recognise and celebrate those that have made an extra effort and gone beyond their basic service requirements to ensure higher welfare standards in some of
the services they provide.”