Matthew is delighted to have been awarded the ‘KC Dog Parliamentary Award’ by the Kennel Club in recognition of his work to promote responsible dog ownership over the past year.
Matthew joined other canine campaigners from across the country to celebrate their dog-related good deeds of the last twelve months at a prize-giving at the headquarters of the Kennel Club, the largest organisation dedicated to the health and welfare of dogs.
Matthew was presented with the accolade as a result of the action he has taken to help promote greater access to public spaces for dogs, raise awareness of the need to ban the sale and use of electric shock collars, and his lobbying of Ministers to address guide dog related matters in Parliament.
Speaking at the presentation, Kennel Club Vice Chairman, Mike Townsend, said: “These awards are an opportunity for us to credit the actions taken by politicians to ensure that the UK’s dogs continue to enjoy maximum access to our open spaces.
“Matthew is passionate about issues affecting dogs in this country and has been vocal about the unfair restrictions which threaten to stop him taking his dog, Maximus, into Parliament, as well as doing a lot to address the issue of electric shock collars and raise it in government, which we commend him for.
“We thank him for his tremendous contribution to making a positive difference to our four-legged friends and hope that his approach will act as a model for other MPs to follow.”
Launched at Crufts in 2006, the Kennel Club's KC Dog is a free-to-join campaign that helps to promote and protect dog owners' rights by keeping members informed about Kennel Club campaign activities, including dog control orders. Now in its eighth year, the KC Dog Awards credit the actions taken by politicians, local authorities, public bodies and individuals to protect dog owners’ rights and ensure that the UK remains known as a nation of dog lovers.
Visit www.thekennelclub.org.uk/kcdog for more information on dog related issues across the UK and the Kennel Club’s campaign work.