Our outstanding work with stray dogs has been recognised by the RSPCA for the tenth year running.
Our Animal and Environmental Protection team has been awarded the RSPCA’S Platinum award and its animal licensing team has received the Gold award.
The RSPCA’s flagship PawPrints awards is the only scheme of its kind which recognises local authorities and public bodies for going above and beyond to deliver world-class animal welfare services.
Our Animal Control Officers collect dogs which are found straying across Medway.
The team has its own incredibly popular Facebook page which is used to help find the owners of stray dogs. If no owners can be found, dogs are either found breed-specific rescue centres or are sent to Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, for rehoming.
The team also attend community events and encourage dog owners to follow the Medway canine code which includes keeping your dog under control at all times, ensuring your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and treating your dog with love and kindness.
Our Animal and Environmental Protection Team is also responsible for licensing all establishments involved in animal activities which includes selling animals as pets, boarding cats and dogs, breeding dogs and hiring out horses. The team aims to promote the wellbeing of animals by inspecting businesses and homes, responding to complaints about licensed premises and providing advice and guidance to residents and businesses about animal welfare.
Testament to the team's hard work
Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Enforcement, covering wardens, said: “We are delighted that our Animal and Environmental Protection Team has received Platinum and Gold RSPCA awards. We take animal welfare extremely seriously and the team does everything they can to reunite stray dogs with their owners. These awards are testament to the hard work of our dedicated teams and I would like to thank them for everything that they do.”
Unwavering commitment to protecting and promoting animal welfare
Lee Gingell, the RSPCA’s public affairs manager for local government, said: “We’re thrilled to see Medway Council pick up the RSPCA’s Stray Dog Services (Platinum) and the Animal Activity Licensing (Gold) PawPrints Awards. Platinum PawPrints are awarded to organisations who have received gold for five or more years consecutively, which demonstrates Medway Council's unwavering commitment to protecting and promoting animal welfare.
“It’s a tough time for pet owners as the cost-of-living crisis continues, a tough time too for local authorities and public bodies as demands increase and resources decline. In the face of these challenges, we’re proud to award Medway Council as part of the PawPrints Awards for implementing and promoting schemes and policies that protect and promote animal welfare, and support pet owners - now more important than ever.
“There’s so much great work that staff do behind the scenes. Too often, their dedication, commitment, and inspirational work goes unsung and doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
“PawPrints is all about shouting from the rooftops; recognising individuals and teams and celebrating and promoting best practice. We’re delighted to showcase Medway Council and their work to protect and promote animal welfare; going above and beyond for animals and looking way past statutory minimums because it’s the right thing to do - for humans and animals.”
For more information about the council’s stray dogs team, visit: Medway.gov.uk/Dogs
To find out more about animal licensing, visit: Medway.gov.uk/AnimalLicences