Dudley Council has won a national award for its work in protecting animals.

The local authority has been given the RSPCA Contingency Planning PawPrints Award for 2023.

The charity’s awards scheme recognises public sector organisations for their efforts to protect and promote animal welfare.

The council received a bronze award for its work in ensuring animal welfare was a key consideration in emergency and contingency planning. This included identifying temporary animal shelters and developing a pet evacuation plan. Councillor Paul Bradley, deputy leader of the council, said:

“I would like to congratulate our team for this fantastic achievement.

“Our officers work hard to ensure our standards remain high when it comes to the welfare of animals in our borough.

“This award is a great reflection of their hard work.”