ENTER THE PAWPRINTS AWARDS
We're delighted you've decided to enter the PawPrints Awards. We recognise how much pressure local public sector bodies are facing, so taking part is simple and designed to fit around your day-to-day work.
You don't need to create anything new, unless you want to, just tell us about what you're already doing and the difference it's making for animal welfare.
KEY INFORMATION FOR 2026
We are still finalising the details, but sharing them very soon!
Register your interest to stay updated on this year's awards.
KEY INFORMATION FOR 2026
We are delighted to announce the key dates for the PawPrints Awards 2026.
Make sure you have these dates in your diary to plan and submit your entry.
|
ACTIVITY |
KEY DATE |
|---|---|
| ENTRIES OPEN |
MONDAY 20 APRIL 2026 |
| FULL SUBMISSION DEADLINE |
FRIDAY 31 JULY 2026 |
| SHORTLISTING & ASSESSMENT |
AUGUST 2026 |
| AWARDEES & FINALISTS ANNOUNCED |
WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 2026 |
| PAWPRINTS AWARDS EVENT |
WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2026 |
While entries are not yet open, you can still register your interest.
WHY ENTER
PawPrints is the only awards scheme in England and Wales dedicated to recognising animal welfare across the local public sector.
By entering, you can:
- Showcase the impact of your work locally and nationally
- Gain recognition through a trusted, long-standing scheme
- Celebrate your team and partners
- Share learning and inspire others
- Strengthen your organisation's profile and reputation
Every entry helps build a clearer picture of what works and supports animal welfare improvement across the sector.
WHO CAN ENTER
The PawPrints Awards are open to public sector organisations and individuals across England and Wales.
You can enter if you are part of:
- A local authority or local authority service (or partnership of local authorities)
- A public sector individual, team or organisation
- A partnership involving local authorities or a public sector organisation
- An individual, team, or elected representative working to improve animal welfare
We recognise work across a wide range of service areas, including stray dog services, animal activity licensing, housing, contingency planning and kennelling, alongside cross-cutting areas such as partnerships, advocacy and innovation.
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To be eligible for the PawPrints Awards, your entry must:
- Related to work delivered within the last 12 months
- Demonstrate a clear contribution to improving animal welfare
- Include evidence of policies and procedures (where necessary) and impact or outcomes
- Be submitted by, or on behalf of, a relevant public sector individual, team, organisation or partnership.
Entries in the Hero and Special Awards categories may be submitted both as self-nominations and third-party nominations.
HOW TO ENTER
Entering PawPrints is a structured but straightforward process, designed to support high-quality submissions while keeping things proportionate and accessible.
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Complete a short online registration form to get started. This captures the key details about your organisation, category and submission.
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You'll then complete your full submission separately, giving you time to prepare your response and gather supporting information.
How you submit will depend on the type of award:
- Core Awards - complete a self-assessment against Bronze, Silver or Gold criteria, supported by copies of policies, procedures and images where necessary.
- Hero and Special Awards - submit a written nomination aligned to the category criteria.
Additional documentation to support your entry could include, but is not limited to:
- Policies or procedures
- Data and performance information
- Case studies or examples
- Partnership materials
Once you are ready, send your completed submission(s) by email to Lee Gingell (lee.gingell@rspca.org.uk).
You don't need to complete Step One and Step Two in one sitting - you're very welcome, and it is encouraged, to register your entry first and submit your entry at a later date (but before the submission deadline!).
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You do not need to do anything at this stage, although we may get in touch asking for more information where required to support your entry.
All entries are assessed against the relevant criteria to ensure a fair and consistent approach.
Submissions are reviewed by the RSPCA Public Affairs team, with input from inspectorate colleagues and external partners where appropiate.
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Before awards are confirmed, prospective awardees will go through a verification process to ensure accuracy and integrity.
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Successful awardees in the Core Awards and Hero Awards categories will be published online and notified by email, alongside a social media campaign and press activity to spotlight your excellence.
Finalists in the Special Awards categories will also be published online and notified by email, with final awards announced at the PawPrints Awards Ceremony in November.
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Awardees in the Core Awards and Hero Awards categories will be formally presented with their award at our PawPrints Awards Ceremony in November, where we will also be announcing the Special Award winners.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
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Your submission should:
a) Demonstrate how you meet the criteria for your chosen category and level (Bronze, Silver or Gold)
b) Include clear, concise written responses aligned to the criteria, which should also be supported by relevant evidence (as stated in the criteria), such as:
- Policies and procedures
- Data and performance information
Images or other supporting materials are not compulsory (unless otherwise stated in the criteria) but strongly encouraged and recommended.
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Your submission should:
a) Be provided in a clear written format aligned to the award criteria
b) Describe the activity, impact and outcomes achieved
Images and other supporting materials is not compulsory (unless otherwise stated) but strongly encouraged and recommended.
SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
We provide a range of guidance and support to help you submit a strong entry.
This includes:
- Category criteria and guidance documents
- Templates and an entry toolkit
- Direct support from the RSPCA Public Affairs team
We're also holding several drop-in sessions targeted at those who are new to entering or looking to upgrade their level. We'll be sharing more details soon.
You are also very welcome to contact the PawPrints Awards team at any step in the process if you require any further information, support or guidance - don't be afraid to reach out.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Entries haven't opened for 2026 yet, but you can still register your interest and stay updated.