RSPCA awards Council’s stray dogs service platinum standard

Cheshire West and Chester Council has once again been recognised by the RSPCA for its commitment to animal welfare, receiving a Platinum Award in the 2026 RSPCA PawPrint Awards.

The award marks the fifteenth consecutive year that the Council’s stray dogs service has been recognised by the RSPCA and reflects the dedication of officers who go above and beyond legal requirements in the way they care for and support stray dogs across the borough.

The Platinum Award is reserved for organisations that have achieved the RSPCA’s Gold standard for more than five years, recognising sustained excellence in animal welfare and responsible animal management.

Councillor Stuart Bingham, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Pride and Community Safety, said:

“Many thanks to everyone involved in our stray dog service. Fifteen years of achieving the RSPCA’s top standard for our work with stray dogs is a wonderful achievement.

“Dog owners can really help our Public Protection team by ensuring that their pets are kept safe, are both tagged and micro-chipped and by picking up after them. It is a legal requirement for a dog to be both microchipped and to have a tag with their owner’s name and address; a telephone number on the tag is helpful too.

“Please help to keep your dog safe throughout their life by making sure you register your details and keep them up-to-date. As well as being legal requirements, getting your dog tagged and micro-chipped means you can be reunited with them as quickly as possible if they go astray.”

Lee Gingell, RSPCA Public Affairs Manager for Local Government, said:

“Local public services have an important role in protecting animals and supporting the people who care for them. Congratulations to Cheshire West and Chester on achieving a Platinum Award. PawPrints celebrates this work and shares effective practice to help protect, promote and improve animal welfare, and create a better world for every kind.”

In 2025, the Council collected 115 stray dogs across the borough. While 39 of the dogs were reunited with their owners, only 41 of all the stray dogs were microchipped, and the majority could sadly not be reunited with their owners and went on to be re-homed through partner organisations.

As well as stressing the importance of having your dog microchipped, the Council is also reminding residents to use only licensed boarding kennels when making arrangements for their pets.

Licensed establishments are inspected by the Council to ensure they meet required welfare standards. Using an unlicensed business could put pets at risk, as facilities may not have been properly assessed for safety and security and owners may find their pet insurance is invalid.

Pet owners are encouraged to check that a boarding kennel holds a current licence before making a booking, rather than relying on previous licences or recommendations.

Residents can report a stray dog by calling:

• 0300 123 7038 (option 1), Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm
• 0300 123 7035 outside these hours, including weekends and bank holidays