Council Scoop RSCPA Silver Award

Worthing Borough Council has scooped the silver stray dog footprint award as part of the RSPCA’s Community Animal Welfare Footprints. The council received this prestigious award for the way it looks after stray dogs.

Dog warden Russ Akehurst and Clive Roberts cabinet member for clean and green environment were invited to the House of Lords to be congratulated by the RSCPA who were impressed by the policies and procedures the council had in place both in and out of working hours. When stray dogs are reported to the council, dog warden Russ Akehurst checks to see if they if they have been micro chipped. If they have, then they are returned to the owner, if not they are taken to Old Clayton Kennels in Storrington. Dogs reported stray out of hours are taken to Grove Lodge Veterinary Group Ltd until they can be picked up by Russ. Delighted to receive the award, Russ said: “This is a real team effort by all involved. Most of the dogs we fi nd, go home but we could take more home if they were micro chipped. The council is happy to micro chip dogs for £15 and we can do it in people’s homes. And if anyone is thinking about getting a dog I would encourage them to think of giving a loving home to a rescue dog.”

About 65 per cent of stray dogs go home straight away. The rest go to the kennels and about 50 per cent of these dogs go home. The kennels try to fi nd new homes for dogs that go unclaimed. Cabinet member for clean and green environment Clive Roberts said: “It’s always good to see one of our services recognised for excellence. I would like to congratulate the whole team.”

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