HART’s dog warden team has won a prestigious RSPCA award for the fifth year in a row.

The district council’s team won the Gold Footprint Award in this year’s RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Footprint awards.

Out of 129 applications for this year’s award, Hart was one of 62 local authorities across England and Wales to receive the gold award in the Stray Dog Footprint Award category.

The scheme celebrates good practice by rewarding those organisations which go above and beyond statutory service requirements with the aim of achieving higher animal welfare standards.

Speaking about the award, Cabinet member for regulatory aervices, John Kennett, said: “We have a statutory duty to provide a service and it’s a great achievement that the dog warden team, Ayesha and Carrie, have carried on the high standards of animal welfare which were established by Lynn Byfield before her retirement after 25 years’ service.

“They work hard to enforce dog fouling and dangerous dog laws, collect strays and generally promote responsible dog ownership, including microchipping so that dogs can be identified.

“This award by the RSPCA recognises the commitment they bring to their work.”

Rachel Williams, senior parliamentary advisor for the RSPCA said: “The Footprints are the only awards that recognise the hard work of local authorities, social housing providers and public sector bodies, so it is great to be able to recognise and reward the hard work that organisations do to improve animal welfare.”

Since 2008, the RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints scheme has been the only award scheme across England and Wales recognising good practice from local authorities, housing providers and contingency planners in relation to animal welfare.

For more information about Hart’s dog wardens and their work visit www.hart.gov.uk/dog-warden.