Our excellent work with stray dogs has been recognised by the RSPCA for the eleventh year running.
Our Animal, Noise & Nuisance Team has retained the RSPCA’s Platinum award for its work with stray dogs, as well as its Gold award for animal licensing. In addition, our Housing team also secured a Silver award for the first time.
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. They regularly post to their popular Facebook page to try and find the owners to reunite them with their dog. If a dog remains unclaimed, the team will seek a rescue space for it to be rehomed – they work with a number of fantastic rescues, including Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
One dog the team cared for, Stella, was handed into a local vets mid-whelp before the team picked her up. She sadly lost her litter, but made a full recovery and was rehomed through Happy Endings rescue. Another, Jasmine, spent seven days in the team’s care before being placed with Cinque Ports Rescue, who arranged for her to have necessary dental treatment.
We are also responsible for licensing all establishments involved in animal activities, including selling pets, boarding cats and dogs, breeding dogs and more. 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.
Our HRA Housing Team has also recently updated its Pet Policy. There is a focus on responsible pet ownership, ensuring a good balance between tenants being able to enjoy the benefits of pet ownership whilst also working to prevent other residents from suffering animal-related nuisance.
The team have also developed a council tenant landing page on our website, which contains information on pet ownership, animal welfare, microchipping and neutering. Providing this information to support tenants helped to secure our Silver PawPrint award. We are committed to continuously improving its services for residents and welcomes any feedback on the information provided.
Testament to the dedication of our teams
Cllr Alex Paterson, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, Highways and Enforcement, said: “It is fantastic to see our Animal, Noise & Nuisance Team recognised for their hard work once again with the Platinum and Gold RSPCA awards. It is also brilliant to see our Housing team recognised for the first time with their Silver award. We take animal welfare seriously in Medway, and these awards are testament to the dedication of our teams – I would like to thank them personally for everything they do.”
Lee Gingell, Public Affairs Manager at the RSPCA, said: "We are thrilled to recognise Medway Council in this year's RSPCA PawPrints Awards.
“Their commitment to animal welfare is truly commendable and reflects the high standards that the PawPrints awards aim to celebrate. By winning this award, Medway Council has demonstrated outstanding dedication to protecting, promoting and enhancing animal welfare, and we hope their achievements inspire others to strive for excellence in this vital area."
Find out more about our work with stray dogs.