2026 AWARD WINNERS AND FINALISTS
Meet the organisations, teams, partnerships, and individuals recognised in the RSPCA PawPrints Awards 2026 for their work to protect, promote, and improve animal welfare across England and Wales.
This year's theme, Prevention as Protection, celebrates the difference made by acting earlier: preventing animal cruelty, neglect, and suffering, supporting responsible ownership, and building stronger local public services for animals and communities.
The 2026 Core and Hero Award recipients have now been confirmed. Our Special Award finalists are also revealed below, with the final results announced at the PawPrints Awards event in Cardiff on Wednesday 11th November 2026.
Every award recipient and finalist represents people choosing to act for animals. From the everyday services that provide safety and care to the partnerships, ideas, and leadership preventing problems from reaching crisis point, this work shows what can be achieved when animal welfare is treated as a shared responsibility. Congratulations to everyone recognised, and thank you for helping to create a better world for every kind.
SPECIAL AWARD FINALISTS 2026
The PawPrints Special Awards recognise exceptional leadership, innovation, advocacy and partnership working beyond day-to-day public-sector service delivery.
Congratulations to all our 2026 finalists. The final results will be announced at the PawPrints Awards event in Cardiff on Wednesday 11th November.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD FINALISTS
Recognising an individual or organisation that has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to animal welfare.
Sharon Edwards - Animal Welfare Consultant
With more than 30 years in local authority animal health, Sharon has combined operational leadership with a significant contribution to professional development. Through chairing the National Companion & Exotic Welfare Panel, delivering specialist licensing training, and supporting preventative tools, she has helped share knowledge and improve public service provisions for animals.
Carmarthenshire County Council
Carmarthenshire County Council has combined animal welfare enforcement, financial investigation, and partnership working to tackle illegal dog breeding. Since 2022, its work has secured prosecutions and more than £1m in confiscation orders, costs, fines and surcharges - addressing both the harm experienced by dogs and puppies and the financial incetives behind illegal breeding.
Hadlow Rural Community School
Hadlow Rural Community School has placed animal welfare at the hart of its land-based curriculum. Pupils develop scientific knowledge, practical husbandry skills, and respect for animals and nature, while promoting responsible fireworks messaging, wildlife conservation, and work with local primary schools to extend that learning into the wider local community.
INNOVATOR AWARD FINALISTS
Recognising new approaches, tools, and service models with the potential to improve animal welfare and inspire wider change.
City of London Corporation - Primate Licensing Training Programme
The City of London Animal Health Team have created a practical training programme to help officers regulate the private keeping of primates following new legislation in England. Training at zoological collections, practical enclosure inspections, and continuing case support have reached professionals from more than 80 local authorities and partner organisations, supporting better-informed decisions about primate welfare.
Wiltshire Council - Dog Friendly Wiltshire Directory
The Dog Friendly Wiltshire Directory makes it easier for residents and visitors to find places where their dogs are welcome. With more than 300 participating businesses, the intitiative encourages responsible ownership, supports dog-friendly communities, and helps people include their dogs safely in everyday life.
South Yorkshire Police - Seized-Dog Welfare Initiative
South Yorkshire Police has welcomed independent welfare and behavioural expertise to improve the experience of dogs held in kennels. Specialist training, individual behaviour assessments, and changes to enrichment, behavioural support, and veterinary care are helping staff respond more effectively to the needs of each dog.
WITHNALL PARTNERSHIPS AWARD FINALISTS
Named in tribute to RSPCA Inspector Kirsty Withnall, this award recognises outstanding collaboration and partnership working between local authorities, public bodies, the RSPCA, and other partner organisations to improve animal welfare.
Animal Licensing Wales (ALW)
Animal Licensing Wales (ALW) brings Welsh local authorities together with Border Force, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), police forces, veterinary professionals, and animal welfare charities. The partnership, led by ALW, supports complex investigations, port operations, and coordinated care for animals requiring rescue and rehoming, strengthening the collective response to welfare concerns across Wales.
Keeping Pets and People Together partnership
The Keeping Pets and People Together partnership united Newcastle University, Street Paws, StreetVet, Dogs Trust, vets in the community, local authorities, accommodation providers, and people with lived experience to address a major barrier to leaving homelessness. Research, direct conversations, and co-design informed a Charter and resources promoting pet inclusion as the default - helping prevent impossible choices between safe accommodation and their pets.
Hounslow Council Animal Welfare Team
The London Borough of Hounslow Animal Welfare Team has built partnerships with the RSPCA, Metropolitan Police, neighbouring councils, veterinary professionals, Battersea and others, combining enforcement, prevention and care. Joint work has rescued abandoned animals, disrupted suspected low-welfare puppy trading, secured urgent veterinary treatment that avoided euthanasia and moved nearly 14 tonnes of pet food to rescue organisations.
South Yorkshire Police - Seized Dog Welfare
South Yorkshire Police worked with kennel staff, veterinary professionals, the RSPCA, and independent behavioural experts to improve care for dogs held in kennels. The partnership has translated shared knowledge into practical changes to training, assessments, enrichment, and veterinary support, keeping the welfare needs of individual dogs at the centre of decision-making.
MASSINGHAM ADVOCACY AWARD
Named in tribute to Mrs Speedwell Massingham, the RSPCA's first parliamentary campaigner and one of the earliest women elected to the House of Commons, this award recognises outstanding advocacy and political influence for animals.
Unlike the Special Recognition, Innovator, and Withnall Partnerships Special Awards, the winner of the Massingham Advocacy Award is announced on 2nd September.
AWARDED - PEREDUR OWEN GRIFFITHS MS
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS is recognised for his contribution to animal welfare advocacy in Wales, and for helping keep the protection of animals visibile within political debate and decision-making in the Senedd.
HERO AWARD WINNERS 2026
The PawPrints Hero Awards recognise people, teams, and initiatives delivering outstanding preventative work and early intervention.
These recipients show how practical action, public engagement, and collaboration can prevent animal welfare problems from escalating and improve outcomes for every kind - animals, communities, and frontline services.
RESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSHIP HERO
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council have transformed responsible dog ownership from a reactive enforcement issue into a coordinated, preventative service. New tenants receive clear ownership expectations, early Dog Warden visits, welfare assessments, and pet contingency planning support, while housing providers, police, and council teams share knowledge and intelligence, and use graduated interventions consistently. This approach has helped owners change their behaviour, brought complaints to an end, and protected dogs' welfare where support alone did not secure improvement.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND BEHAVIOUR CHANGE HERO
Wiltshire Council - "Leave Only Pawprints" campaign
Wiltshire Council's "Leave Only Pawprints" campaign invited children aged five to fourteen to create positive messages encouraging owners to clean up after their dogs. More than 60 designs were submitted, and over 1,000 public votes helped select the winners, whose artwork is now displayed in parks and green spaces. By replacing easily ignored enforcement signs with locally created artwork, the campaign brought children, families, residents, and partners together around responsible ownership.
PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION HERO
Keeping Pets and People Together partnership (IMPACT Facilitator Programme)
The Keeping Pets and People Together partnership brought animal welfare, homelessness, and accommodation partners together with people who have lived experience of being denied accommodation because of an animal. Its Charter and practical resources promote pet inclusion as the default, helping services intervene earlier and preventing people from being forced to choose between safety and their animals, who may also be their greatest source of support.
CORE AWARD RECIPIENTS 2026
The PawPrints Core Awards recognise effective animal welfare practice across five essential local public-service areas.
Bronze recognises strong statutory compliance and welfare foundations. Silver recognises consistent delivery, early intervention, and support. Gold recognises proactive, preventative, and partnership-led practices. Platinum recognises organisations that have achieved Gold in the same category for five or more consecutive years.
Congratulations to every 2026 Core Award recipient.
STRAY DOG SERVICES
Recognising safe, welfare-led services that protect stray dogs' welfare, support reunification and rehoming, and work to reduce demand through prevention.
PLATINUM
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Breckland Council |
| Broadland District Counci |
| Cardiff Council |
| Charnwood Borough Council |
| Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council |
| Cornwall Council |
| Croydon Council |
| Dacorum Borough Council |
| Forest of Dean District Council |
| Great Yarmouth Council |
| Hackney Council |
| London Borough of Newham |
| London Borough of Hounslow |
| Luton Borough Council |
| Medway Council |
| North Norfolk Council |
| North West Leicestershire District Council |
| Northumberland County Council |
| Norwich City Council |
| Portsmouth City Council |
| Shared Regulatory Services (Bridgend, Cardiff, and Vale of Glamorgan Councils) |
| South Norfolk Council |
| Stroud District Council |
| Swale Borough Council |
| Wandsworth Council |
| Westminster Council |
| Wiltshire Council |
| Winchester City Council |
| Wirral Council |
GOLD
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Bath Cats and Dogs Home (BCDH) |
| East Suffolk Council |
| Havant Borough Council |
| Hull City Council |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council |
| Newport City Council |
| ODS/Oxford City Council |
BRONZE
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council |
| Reading Borough Council |
ANIMAL ACTIVITIES LICENSING
Recognising welfare-focused licensing services that uphold standards, support responsible operators, and prevent poor animal welfare through effective regulation.
PLATINUM
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Bristol City Council |
| City of London Corporation |
| Guildford Borough Council |
| London Borough of Newham |
| Medway Council |
| Shared Regulatory Services (Bridgend, Cardiff, and Vale of Glamorgan Councils) |
| Westminster Council |
| Winchester City Council |
GOLD
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Animal Licensing Wales |
| Brentwood Borough Council |
| Colchester City Council |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council |
| Havant Borough Council |
| Hull City Council |
| London Borough of Hounslow |
| Maldon District Council |
| Manchester City Council |
| Stroud District Council |
| Swale Borough Council |
| Tendring District Council |
| Thurrock Council |
| Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council |
| Tunbridge Wells Borough Council |
SILVER
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| East Suffolk Council |
| Herefordshire Council |
HOUSING
Recognising pet-inclusive housing services that support responsible ownership, intervene early, and help prevent animals from being relinquished.
PLATINUM
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Anchor Hanover Group |
| Dacorum Borough Council |
| Leeds Homes (Leeds City Council) |
| Wandsworth Council |
| Westminster Council |
GOLD
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Golding Homes |
| London Borough of Hounslow |
| Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Stroud District Council |
SILVER
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Tendring District Council |
CONTINGENCY PLANNING
Recognising prepared and coordinated emergency arrangements that protect animals and support the people responsible for their care during crises and emergencies.
PLATINUM
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Monmouthshire County Council |
GOLD
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Leeds City Council |
| London Borough of Hounslow |
| Westminster Council |
KENNELLING
Recognising high-quality, welfare-led care for dogs held in kennels, including enrichment, behavioural support, and continuous improvement.
PLATINUM
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Hope Rescue |
| London Borough of Hounslow |
| Shared Regulatory Services (Bridgend, Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils) |
GOLD
| ORGANISATIONS |
|---|
| Bath Cats and Dogs Home (BCDH) |
| Breckland Council |
| Broadland District Council |
| Cardiff Council |
| East Suffolk Council |
| Great Yamouth Council |
| Hull City Council |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council |
| London Borough of Newham |
| North Norfolk Council |
| Norwich City Council |
| South Norfolk Council |
CELEBRATE WITH US IN CARDIFF
Join local authorities, public bodies, elected representatives, animal welfare professionals, and partner organisations in Cardiff on Wednesday 11th November.
The event will bring people together for practical learning, shared ideas, and celebration, followed by the PawPrints Awards ceremony and the announcement of the final Special Award results.
Registration closes at 11:59pm on Thursday 22nd October 2026.