Celebrate animal welfare in the South West with RSPCA’s PawPrints Awards

The RSPCA works in close partnership with public bodies to recognise and improve animal welfare standards, and the charity has celebrated community heroes with the one-of-a-kind scheme since 2008.

Working with emergency services, the Armed Forces, councils and other service providers, the awards acknowledge those who surpass legal standards and raise the bar in animal welfare.

And this year sees the launch of an exciting new category - the Withnall Partnerships Award, created to honour outstanding collaboration between the RSPCA, other animal welfare organisations and other teams or individuals. Named after former RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, who was known for her dedication to animal welfare and sadly passed away last year, it celebrates joint efforts that ensure better protection and treatment of animals.

Judges will be looking for both long-term and short-term partnerships that have led to real improvements in animal welfare and collaborations between councils, enforcement agencies, charities, businesses and more.

Alongside the Withnall Partnerships Award there are more  “special” awards, to honour exceptional dedication, commitment, innovation and contributions to animal welfare.

Also new this year are five “hero” categories - Care Act Hero, Public Awareness Hero, Mental Wellbeing Hero, Fireworks Action Hero and Responsible Ownership Hero - to highlight the work being done to tackle specific animal welfare challenges.

Other awards include recognising public bodies for their delivery of stray dog services, licensing, housing services, contingency planning and kennelling - with platinum, gold, silver and bronze awards available in each category. Gold plus and platinum plus awards are new for 2025, awarded to those who achieved bronze to platinum in four or more categories.

At last year’s awards, coinciding with the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary, Cornwall Council and Stroud District Council both scooped platinum awards for their stray dog services, while Bristol City Council won gold for their Animal Activity Licensing work. Bath Cats and Dogs Home also won gold for kennelling.

Lee Gingell, RSPCA Public Affairs Manager, said: “It’s really important to highlight the incredible efforts we know so many go to for animals. We can’t wait to see this year’s entries from the South West and celebrate local animal welfare champions.

“The public sector plays a vital role in improving animal welfare standards - and year on year, we’re so proud of the part the PawPrints scheme plays in inspiring the improvement of standards. This commitment from public bodies has changed the lives of countless pets, wildlife, livestock and other animals, and yet this vital work often goes unheard.

“We want to shine a spotlight on the inspirational work done by so many, and encourage all public bodies to take part to show they are for every kind, and join us in creating a kinder world for every animal.”

PawPrints is endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Environment Health, the Local Government Animal Welfare Group, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the Institute of Licensing and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare.

Entries are open until 18 July this year - and public bodies can apply via the RSPCA’s dedicated PoliticalAnimal website.