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RSPCA launches new award for elected officials
The awards also include categories for local authorities' work providing stray dogs services, kenneling, and contingency planning.
Local authorities urged to apply for animal welfare awards.

The RSPCA has launched a new award as part of its PawPrints Awards, which recognise public sector organisations that surpass legal minimum standards in animal welfare and set benchmarks of excellence.

The new award, the Massingham Advocacy Award, will celebrate elected representatives whose advocacy for animals has been outstanding. The category is open to a wide range of elected officials, including MPs, local councillors, mayors, and police and crime commissioners.

Launched to celebrate the RSPCA’s 200th anniversary and 100 years since the founding of its public affairs team, the award is named after Gertrude Speedwell Massingham, who served as the charity’s first public affairs member of staff.

In addition, the charity also hopes to mark its 200th anniversary by celebrating the work of 200 local public sector bodies in England and Wales as part of this year’s awards. The RSPCA is urging public sector bodies to put in applications.

Other categories in the awards include the delivery of stray dog services, licensing, kennelling, housing services, and contingency planning. Local authorities can receive a gold, silver, and bronze award for each category. There are also special awards given out to celebrate exceptional contributions to animal welfare and innovations in addressing welfare issues.

Lee Gingell, the RSPCA’s local government manager, said: “The public sector plays such an important role in improving animal welfare standards – and we’re proud that the PawPrints scheme has inspired the improvement of standards and positively changed the lives of countless pets, livestock, wildlife and other animals.

“With many new councils and councillors taking up their positions in recent weeks, there's never been a better time for public bodies to show they are for every kind and join us in creating a kinder world for every animal.”

Information about how to apply can be found on the RSPCA’s website.

Image © Shutterstock

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Charities' XL bully neutering scheme closes

News Story 1
 A scheme that helped owners of XL bully dogs with the cost of neutering has closed to new applications due to high demand.

The scheme, run by the RSPCA, Blue Cross, and Battersea, has helped 1,800 dogs and their owners after XL bullies were banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

In England and Wales, owners of XL bully dogs which were over one year old on 31 January 2021 have until 30 June 2024 to get their dog neutered. If a dog was between seven months and 12 months old, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024. If it was under seven months old, owners have until 30 June 2025.

More information can be found on the Defra website. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu cattle outbreak spreads to tenth US state

Cattle in two dairy herds in Iowa have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), making it the tenth state in the USA to be affected by the ongoing outbreak of the disease in cattle.

Since March 2024, more than 80 herds across the USA have been affected by the virus and three dairy workers have tested positive. Authorities have introduced measures to limit the spread of the virus and farmers have been urged to strengthen their biosecurity protocols.

Mike Naig, Iowa secretary of agriculture, said: "Given the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza within dairy cattle in many other states, it is not a surprise that we would have a case given the size of our dairy industry in Iowa.

"While lactating dairy cattle appear to recover with supportive care, we know this destructive virus continues to be deadly for poultry."