Licensing team honoured with gold award from RSPCA for animal welfare services

The licensing team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council has been honoured with a top award from the RSPCA for its continued services to animal welfare. 

The team received the highest level Gold PawPrints Award for animal activities licensing from the RSPCA in recognition of its commitment and ‘continuous efforts to providing exceptional animal welfare services’. 

The annual RSPCA PawPrints Awards, the only scheme of its kind, celebrate local authorities and public bodies for their pioneering work in animal welfare across England and Wales. 

The council’s licensing team issues and regulates all animal welfare licences that are needed by places which sell, care for or exhibit animals in the East Riding, including kennels and catteries, horse riding centres, pet shops, dog breeders and keepers of dangerous wild animals. 

It is the second year running the team has been presented with a Gold PawPrints Award. 

Councillor Lyn Healing, the council’s cabinet member for communities and public protection, said: “We are delighted our licensing team has been honoured with this gold award, which highlights its dedication to improving the lives of animals in our community. 

"We are proud of our team's continued excellent work in this field and we’re grateful for this recognition from the RSPCA.”

Lee Gingell, public affairs manager at the RSPCA, said: “We are thrilled to recognise East Riding of Yorkshire Council with the Gold Award 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, East Riding of Yorkshire 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.” 

The annual RSPCA PawPrints Awards have been running since 2008.