Sandwell Council has been awarded the RSPCA Silver PawPrints status for its clear, positive guidance and flexibility to allow council tenants to keep pets on a case-by-case basis.
Ownners need to be able to meet the animals’ welfare needs and where facilities exist for their proper care.
The RSPCA also noted that the council has clear procedures for managing complaints and concerns surrounding pet ownership regarding nuisance, welfare, health, business activity in the breeding and vending of pets and cruelty and that it holds an up-to-date register of pets. They also saw that it provides written pet care advice/information approved or recognised by reputable animal welfare sources, provides a list of veterinary organisations offering low cost or free animal care and promotes permanent identification and neutering of pets.
Sandwell Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Built Environment, Councillor Laura Rollins, said:
“I would like to thank the RSPCA for giving us this award and recognising all the work that goes into enabling people to keep their animal companions in council housing while ensuring the animals’ welfare needs are met. For many people the ability to keep a pet can be really life-enhancing so it is important that, as a council, we are flexible in our approach and look at individual needs and facilities.”
More information about PawPrints can be found on the RSPCA website