EXPLORE THE CATEGORIES
Find the category - or categories - that best reflect your work and the difference you are making for animals in your local community.
Whether you are developing new approaches or building on established services or work, PawPrints recognises progress at every stage.
We're still finalising the 2026 PawPrints Awards criteria, aiming for publication on 20th April. Register your interest to be the first in the know.
Entering PawPrints is one of the best things I've done in my career. It's the only award scheme I know that recognises the hard work I've put into the dog warden service over the years. I highly recommend it to all local authorities. It doesn't take long to enter and it's a great way to showcase your hard work and promote good practices
HOW THE AWARDS ARE STRUCTURED
The PawPrints Awards are structured across three types of categories, ensuring both service delivery and wider impact are recognised.
CORE AWARDS
Recognising excellence in key local authority service areas, assessed across Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to reflect your journey and impact.
HERO AWARDS
Recognising individuals and teams delivering outstanding work aligned to this year's theme of prevention and early intervention.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Recognising exceptional leadership, innovation, advocacy and partnership working across the sector.
CORE AWARDS: SERVICE EXCELLENCE
The Core Awards recognise delivery across key local authority service areas. Each category is assessed across three levels:
BRONZE: Strong statutory compliance and welfare foundations
SILVER: Consistent delivery with early intervention and support
GOLD: Proactive, preventative, and partnership-led approaches
You can enter at Bronze, Silver or Gold depending on your level of delivery.
Additionally, the prestigious Platinum-level is awarded to organisations that have obtained the Gold-level in one category for five or more years consecutively.
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A welfare-focused licensing service that ensures compliance, supports responsible operators and prevents poor welfare through effective regulation.
BRONZE: Statutory compliance, inspection processes, competent officers
SILVER: Engagement with operators, early intervention, welfare promotion
GOLD: Intelligence-led enforcement, proactive monitoring, partnership working. -
A responsible and welfare-led service that manages stray dogs effectively while working to reduce demand through prevention.
BRONZE: Statutory duties, safe handling, reunification, welfare standards
SILVER: Rehoming frameworks, community engagement, early intervention
GOLD: Preventative campaigns, partnership working, demand reduction -
A pet-inclusive approach to housing that supports responsible ownership and reduces relinquishment.
BRONZE: Clear pet policies, fair access, tenant guidance
SILVER: Support for tenants, early intervention, partnership working
GOLD: Proactive strategies, prevention of relinquishment, integrated services -
Prepared and coordinated approaches that protect animals during emergencies.
BRONZE: Inclusion of animals in emergency plans, defined roles
SILVER: Multi-agency planning, training exercises, risk mitigation
GOLD: Resilient systems, proactive awareness, integrated planning -
High-quality, welfare-led care for dogs held in kennels, aligned to RSPCA standards.
BRONZE: Compliance with welfare legislation and core standards.
SILVER: Enhanced welfare delivery and consistent good practice.
GOLD: Enrichment, behavioural expertise and continuous improvement.
HERO AWARDS: PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION
The Hero Awards recognise individuals and teams going beyond statutory duties to deliver meaningful, preventative impact. All categories are aligned to this year's theme: prevention and early intervention.
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Recognising an individual or team delivering outstanding work to promote responsible pet ownership and prevent dog-related incidents before enforcement is required.
Scope of activity:
- Early intervention approaches to dog control (non-enforcement first)
- Education and engagement with pet owners
- Work to reduce dog attacks, straying and anti-social behaviour
- Partnership working (e.g. housing, police, charities)
Strong entries will demonstrate:
- A clear shift from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention
- Evidence of reduced incidents (e.g. complaints, attacks, strays)
- Practical tools or frameworks (e.g. intervention pathways, owner agreements)
- Engagement with high-risk or repeat-case owners
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Celebrating an individual or team delivering impactful campaigns or educational initiatives that prevent animal welfare issues by influencing public behaviour.
Scope of activity:
- Public awareness campaigns (e.g. fireworks, hot weather, breeding)
- School, community or targeted education programmes
- Behaviour change initiatives (digital, in-person or hybrid)
- Communications translating policy into public action
Strong entries will demonstrate:
- A clear target audience informed by behavioural insight
- Measurable reach and engagement
- Evidence of behaviour change or intention to change
- Creative, accessible and inclusive delivery
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Recognising an individual or team delivering a targeted initiative, programme or service that intervenes early to prevent animal welfare issues escalating.
Scope of activity:
- Early help or triage models
- Support for vulnerable owners (e.g. cost-of-living, housing, crisis support)
- Multi-agency referral pathways
- Data-led identification of risk and early action
Strong entries will demonstrate:
- A clear intervention point before a crisis or enforcement
- Evidence of reduced escalation (e.g. fewer prosecutions, seizures, relinquishments)
- Strong partnership or cross-service working
- A replicable or scalable model
SPECIAL AWARDS: LEADERSHIP, INNOVATION AND IMPACT
The Special Awards recognise exceptional contributions that go beyond day-to-day service delivery to deliver real and long-lasting change for animals.
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For individuals, teams or organisations demonstrating exceptional dedication and leadership, contributing to improved animal welfare.
Examples of work may include long-standing service, exceptional leadership, and/or transformational impact on a service or community.
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For individuals, teams or organisations that are delivering innovative approaches, tools, or models that have signficantly improved animal welfare.
Examples of work may include new service models, digital tools or systems, and/or pilot programmes or policy innovation.
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For elected representatives at all levels of government for outstanding advocacy and influence that has driven change for animal welfare.
Examples of work may include influencing local or national policy, leading campaigns or movements, and/or driving adoption of best practice.
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For teams or organisations delivering outstanding partnership working between local authorities and other organisations to improve animal welfare outcomes.
Examples of work may include multi-agency enforcement approaches, joint welfare initiatives, and/or cross-sector collaboration (e.g. local authority + charity + police).
Not sure where your work fits?
We're here to help. If you're unsure which category or level is right for you, get in touch and we'll guide you.
Ready to enter?
Find your category and start your entry today.