Chelmsford City Council wins two Gold RSPCA PawPrints awards
Chelmsford City Council’s community protection team has been awarded for its continuous efforts to provide exceptional animal welfare services, receiving two Gold RSPCA PawPrints Awards.
PawPrints recognises organisations and individuals for their dedication and commitment to promoting respect, compassion, and kindness towards animals. The council has been awarded Gold for Stray Dog Services and Licensing of Activities Involving Animals. Gold awards, PawPrints’ highest level, are given to those meeting or exceeding the top standards in animal welfare.
This is the third year in a row that Chelmsford City Council’s stray dog services have been recognised, while 2024 is the first year the team entered the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals category.
Commitment to upholding licensing standards praised
The Gold award for Licensing of Activities Involving Animals recognises excellence in ensuring that standards are met to protect the welfare of animals in licensed practices, such as kennels, catteries, doggy day care, home boarding, animal exhibits, pet shops and breeding establishments.
PawPrints assesses safeguarding procedures, work to promote the welfare of all animals involved, and efforts to enforce legislation and prosecute offences. The award’s criteria include a comprehensive licensing policy, robust complaints procedure, qualified experts list, promotion of responsible ownership, socialisation and training provisions, prosecution procedures, and proactive monitoring and investigation of unlicensed activities.
Councillor Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford, said the team deserves to be praised for upholding the highest standards of animal welfare and legal compliance:
““These awards highlight the council’s ongoing efforts to deliver world-class animal welfare services and our officers’ dedication to improving the lives of animals within our community.
Cllr Donna Eley, Cabinet Member for a Safer Chelmsford, Chelmsford City Council
“For their services to be recognised by the RSPCA three years in a row, and to the highest degree, is a reflection of the hard work that goes into ensuring that standards and procedures are upheld across the district. Congratulations to the whole team on these well-deserved awards.”
Further Gold award received for stray dog services
The council’s efforts in delivering effective stray dog services, protecting the welfare of dogs, and promoting responsible pet ownership were also recognised, making 2024 the third year in a row the team have received a Gold award in this category.
The PawPrints Stray Dog Services award acknowledges those who go above and beyond in providing essential services for stray dogs, ensuring their safety, care, and eventual rehoming. With stray dog incidents increasing across Chelmsford, Nicola Tansley, Community Protection Lead Officer, says the team are working harder than ever to maintain excellent standards:
““We’re thrilled to have received a Gold award for our licensing efforts for the first time, and I’m particularly proud that our stray dog services have remained consistently high given the pressure the team have been under due to the increasing number of stray dogs in the district.
Nicola Tansley, Community Protection Lead Officer, Chelmsford City Council
“70 stray dogs were seized throughout 2023, but that number was overtaken before the end of summer this year. To date, we’ve seized 91 stray dogs in 2024. The good news is that the percentage of stray dogs with up-to-date chips is increasing, though there is definitely room for improvement. Please, please make sure you update the information on your pets’ microchips when you get a new dog, move home or change telephone numbers – it makes all the difference in our ability to reunite you if they should go missing.”
Championing responsible dog ownership
So far this year, the majority of stray dogs seized by our dog wardens either didn’t have a microchip or they had a chip that was unregistered or inaccurate (linking to breeders, previous owners, or old addresses). Microchipping dogs is a legal requirement and, as part of its work to promote responsible dog ownership, Chelmsford City Council offers free microchipping for dogs at the Civic Centre. Alternatively, dog wardens can make a home visit for a fee of £10. They can also scan an existing microchip to check its current details and advise you on getting them updated if necessary. If you require any of these services, please contact the team online. Dogs are also required by law to wear a collar with the name and address of their owner inscribed or attached to it.
All of the council’s Community Protection Officers are qualified dog wardens and trained dog handlers, receiving regular training to understand dog behaviours and threats to dog welfare. The team works closely with local vets and kennels to protect dogs who are lost or abandoned by their owners and, where necessary, to rehome them.
Our dog wardens also work alongside the RSPCA and Essex Police to ensure that animal welfare legislation is enforced and offences are prosecuted.
The RSPCA PawPrints Awards, the only scheme of its kind, celebrates local authorities and public bodies for their pioneering work in animal welfare across England and Wales. Lee Gingell, Public Affairs Manager at the RSPCA, said:
“Lee Gingell, RSPCA
"We are thrilled to recognise Chelmsford City Council with the Gold Award for Licensing of Activities Involving Animals and Stray Dog Services 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, Chelmsford City 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."
You can learn more about the community protection team’s work, including our out of hours stray dog service and Green Dog Walkers scheme, on the Chelmsford City Council website.
More information on responsible dog ownership
There is a wealth of information about responsible dog ownership online. Check out our resources page for recommendations.
If you are considering getting a dog, please visit the official RSPCA website for advice and guidance.
If you have lost your dog, you can report them missing and check the stray dog register to see if they have already been found.
If you find a stray dog, please contact our dog wardens online or call 01245 606606.
Molly writes stories about public health, community safety, leisure, community sport, parking and Chelmsford Market.