Here at Secret London HQ, we’re pretty darn passionate about pooches – and it turns out we’re not the only ones. Over in Westminster, they can’t get enough of their furry friends either. So much so, that once a year, parliamentarians and dog-devotees alike gather in London for the extremely prestigious (and ever-so adorable) Westminster Dog of the Year competition. Pups and politics? Now that’s a combination we never knew we needed. Warning: you may need to put your paw-litical opinions to one side for this one.
This years event will be taking place on Thursday September 14 at Victoria Tower Gardens to not only celebrate the happiness that those little doggos bring to our lives, but also to raise awareness of important issues that affect dog welfare and the actions that need to be taken.
Since it began in 1992; the annual competition has given its collaborators (The Kennel Club and Dog’s Trust) the wonderful opportunity to engage with the MP’s who are passionate about pups and identify those who are willing to address and raise canine issues and policies in Parliament.
As a completely apolitical event, all Members of Parliament are able to enter the competition, regardless of political persuasion. The winner (determined by the public vote) will get to take home the “Sir David Amess Pawblic Vote Award”, an accolade in memory of the late Conservative MP who was an advocate for the competition and had worked hard to improve and protect dog welfare throughout his life.
In a bid to win the crown, MPs call for their supporters to vote for their favourite of the four-legged friends. As well as the public vote, judges will assess the pooches based on their heroic deeds and of course, their winning personalities.
You can vote for your favourite parliamentarian and pup duo here but they’re all so darn cute, it’s going to be a tough deision.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, explains: “The Westminster Dog of the Year competition is so much more than a canine beauty pageant. The competition is strictly apolitical; judges will be looking for the dogs’ good deeds and devotion to their owner rather than policies or opinions. It’s a fun filled day out with an important message at its core – helping to promote dog welfare issues and encourage responsible ownership.”
Find out more and cast your vote here.