Cambridge City Council has been awarded a silver Stray Dog Services PawPrint Award by the RSPCA for its work to support stray dogs in the city. This is the fifth year the council has received a PawPrint Award. 

The Stray Dog PawPrint Award recognises the efforts of public sector organisations to deliver high quality stray dog services, protect the welfare of dogs, and promote responsible pet ownership to the wider public. This includes regular dog handling, welfare and behavioural training for staff, policies and procedures to ensure dogs are cared for and responsibly rehomed, and provisions to effectively enforce microchipping legislation.  

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. 

The council offers an around the clock stray dog service. The enforcement team scans every stray dog for a microchip to identify its owner and works with Woodgreen Pets Charity to rehome dogs when an owner cannot be found.  

Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment, said: “Of course the animals that we come into contact with through providing vital services in the city should be treated with care. I am proud that the council has once again had this commitment to a high standard of care for stray dogs recognised, as it underscores our continuous efforts to provide exceptional animal welfare services. 

“I would encourage residents to continue to work with us and report any stray dogs they come across, with the confidence that our teams will help to reunite them with their owners or help to find them a new and loving home with the help of Woodgreen Pets Charity. 

“It is also important that dog owners chip their pets – this makes it easier for our officers to return your dog to you in the event that it gets lost.” 

Helen Stapleton, Head of Intake & Rehoming at Woodgreen Pets Charity, said: “Woodgreen works very closely with Cambridge City Council to help them manage stray dogs in the area. We deliver a 24-hour support service, meaning we can be there for homeless dogs at any time of the day or night.  

“Stray dogs are some of the most vulnerable animals we care for at Woodgreen, as they’re often lost and confused. Sadly, we’ve seen a 45% increase in stray dogs coming through our doors over the past year. However, through our partnerships with local councils, we can offer stray dogs a safe place to stay and provide the care they need, until we can either reunite them with their owners or find them loving new homes if no-one comes forward to reclaim them. 

“A little dog called Cindy Lou was brought to us by the dog warden at Cambridge City Council a week before Christmas. She was sweet but very timid, and we believe she’d recently given birth. Her owner didn’t come forward, but we found Cindy Lou a new home where she’s enjoying a fresh start. Earlier this year, we took in an excitable stray spaniel called Holly who had some behavioural issues. We were able to find a lovely family who were willing to work on these issues with our support.  

“We are proud to work alongside Cambridge City Council to ensure any dogs found alone in public can be brought to us and receive the care they deserve in their time of need.” 

Lee Gingell, the RSPCA’s Public Affairs Manager for Local Government, said: “We are thrilled to recognise Cambridge City Council with the RSPCA’s Silver 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, Cambridge 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.”