Vet MP among winners of new animal advocacy award
The award is named after Gertrude Speedwell Massingham, the RSPCA's first public affairs officer.
The RSPCA has announced the first winners of its new Massingham Advocacy Award, which has been created to recognise elected officials who have shown dedication to advocating for animals.
The award has been given to Neil Hudson, an MP and veterinary surgeon, Carolyn Thomas, a member of the Welsh Parliament, Anna Firth, who was an MP until the last election, and Kerrie Carmichael, leader of Sandwell Council.
Part of the charity’s PawPrints awards, the new award was introduced this year to mark the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary and 100 years since the charity appointed its first public affairs officer.
In 2019, Dr Hudson became the first veterinary surgeon elected to the House of Commons since 1884. He has served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee and campaigned on issues such as puppy smuggling, the import of dogs with cropped ears, and ensuring that veterinary medicines remain available across the UK.
Ms Thomas established and chairs the Senedd’s cross-party group on animal welfare. She has been involved in the RSPCA’s campaign for greater support for pet owners who rent, as well as working on issues around animal sanctuary licensing, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on pet owners, and enhanced protections for wild animals.
Before she lost her seat in this year’s general election, Ms Firth sponsored the Private Members’ Bill which recently made stealing a pet dog or cat a specific criminal offence. The new law came into force on 24 August and means that stolen pets are no longer recorded in the same category as inanimate objects. Those found guilty of pet abduction could face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
Under the leadership of Ms Carmichael, Sandwell Council in the West Midlands has introduced an Animal Welfare Charter, which provides principles and guidelines to create a safer and more respectful environment for animals in the area.
The PawPrints awards ceremony will be held in London later in the year.
Dr Hudson said: “From cracking down on pet smuggling to bolstering the nation's animal disease infrastructure and putting animal welfare at the heart of farming, I've had the pleasure of leading a host of campaigns from Parliament's green benches.
“I cannot thank the RSPCA enough for the award and would just like to reinforce that this is not a one man job and so I must pay tribute to all those who have supported me in my work.
“Fundamentally, we are a nation of animal lovers and I'm delighted to be leading the charge for our globally-renowned animal health and welfare standards.”
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