Dacorum Borough Council achieves gold RSPCA PawPrints award

RSPCA’s PawPrints Awards recognises good practice from local authorities in relation to animal welfare
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Dacorum Borough Council has once again achieved gold standard in the annual RSPCA PawPrints awards.

Both the Environmental Community Protection Animal Welfare service and the Housing teams were recognised for good practice, exceeding basic and statutory service requirements with the aim of achieving higher animal welfare standards.

Since 2008, the RSPCA’s PawPrints Awards has been the only scheme recognising good practice from local authorities in relation to animal welfare.

Dacorum Borough Council gets gold in RSPCA awardDacorum Borough Council gets gold in RSPCA award
Dacorum Borough Council gets gold in RSPCA award

The teams excelled in two areas:

- Stray Dogs Footprint

The main aim of this footprint is to set a level of good practice for stray dog provision by acknowledging local authority services that have mechanisms and policies to ensure dog welfare, provide staff training, and promote responsible dog ownership.

It also aims to encourage local authorities to look at this important and often undervalued service and address any resource and service issues that may help them to meet the footprint criteria in the future.

- Housing Footprint

This footprint recognises housing providers who take positive steps to encourage and ensure responsible pet ownership in the properties they manage, and to recognise others that are doing so.

In addition, the footprint aims to encourage a considered pets-in-housing policy that is not simply a ‘knee jerk’ response to problems that have arisen through a weak pet policy or tensions created by an anti-social minority.

Cllr Julie Banks, Dacorum Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Community and Regulatory Services, said: “This is a fantastic achievement by our hard working staff who are committed to achieving high animal welfare standards across the borough.

"To achieve the gold standard yet again is testament to their dedication. Many congratulations to all involved.”

Dacorum Borough Council's animal welfare team assist with any resident concerns including neglect or abuse of an animal.

Animal concerns can be reported by emailing: [email protected] or calling 01442 228418.