For the fourth year running, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council (TMBC) has been given an RSPCA award.

The authority has been handed the Community Animal Welfare Footprints Gold Award for Stray Dog Services.

It places TMBC in the top 15% of local authorities nationally for achieving high standards when dealing with stray dogs.

A spokesman for the council said the award not only reflects the authority's commitment to dog welfare over and above the statutory requirements, but also recognises the personal and professional commitment and dedication of dog warden, Lorraine Baseden.

TMBC won the Gold Award by showing it goes beyond the call of duty by offering an out-of-hours collection service, kennelling, micro-chipping of all stray dogs before they are returned to their owners or re-homed, and by encouraging responsible dog ownership.

From March 2014 to April 2015 officers dealt with 265 stray dogs, a 40% increase from the previous year.

The majority were reunited with their owners thanks to contact details found on their micro-chips or dog collar tags.

"With more dogs than ever reported as strays this year, we cannot over emphasise how important it is to have dogs micro-chipped" - Cllr Jill Anderson

However, 76 dogs had to be re-homed because they weren’t micro-chipped or wearing a collar tag and nobody came forward to claim them.

Cllr Jill Anderson, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s cabinet member for housing and environment services, said: “Many congratulations to our dog warden for her continued efforts in dealing so effectively with stray dogs in Tonbridge and Malling.

"With more dogs than ever reported as strays this year, we cannot over emphasise how important it is to have dogs micro-chipped and to ensure they wear a collar tag showing clear contact details.

"Losing a precious pet can be very distressing but by taking a few simple steps to make sure your dog can be easily identified, most can be reunited with their owners within a few days.”

David Ward of Ward Security, which provides the dog warden service, said: “We are delighted that Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council has been given this award.

"Lorraine Baseden has always been highly committed to her job and is an asset."

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