“Today we pay tribute to Sir David and all he has done for dog welfare" - Mark Beazley, Kennel Club CEO.
A French bulldog owned by the late Sir David Amess' daughter, has been crowned Westminster Dog of the Year 2021 in honour of the MP's life's work to improve and protect dog welfare.
Sir David had entered the annual competition - organised by Dogs Trust and The Kennel Club - more than a dozen times with his rescue dogs, Lilly and Bo.
A Southend West MP, he was an avid campaigner against electric shock collars, raised awareness about the impact of fireworks on pets, and pledged to bring an end to puppy smuggling.
Vivienne - who was entered into the competition before Sir David's tragic death - was honoured on Wednesday (28 October) in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster. She received her award alongside Sir David’s close friends and colleagues, Mark Francois MP and Andrew Rosindell MP.
The judging panel, including Mark Beazley, chief executive at The Kennel Club, Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust chief executive and Alex Norris MP; 2018 Winner, spent the morning with dogs from across the political spectrum and led tributes to the much-loved MP.
Mark Beazley said: “Today we pay tribute to Sir David and all he has done for dog welfare, and hope to honour his legacy to protect and improve the lives of the nation’s pets, who make such a difference to so many. Crowning Vivienne as Westminster Dog of the Year and the public’s winner is testament to Sir David’s commitment and his passionate campaigning for animals.
"We would like to thank all the MPs and their four-legged counterparts for taking part in the competition and their tributes to Sir David, and for their commitment to dog welfare.”
Dogs Trust chief executive Owen Sharp commented: “Sir David Amess was a cherished friend of Dogs Trust and a great supporter of Westminster Dog of the Year. He was a fantastic advocate for animal welfare and a huge dog lover, making it an honour to award his dog, Vivienne, with the coveted title of Westminster Dog of the Year today.
“His constituents and supporters across the UK voted in their tens of thousands to also crown Vivienne as the winner of the public vote - testament to his unwavering dedication to dog welfare. Sir David’s memory lives on at this event, and we want to thank him and the other MPs here today for caring and for making a difference to the lives of dogs here in the UK.”
Andrew Rosindell MP added: “No one loved animals like David, and no one loved their dog like David. I could not feel more sadness at the fact that it will be me chaperoning Vivienne, his dog, at the Dog of the Year, instead of him, but I also could not feel more pride to be able to pay tribute to him in this small way."
Image (C) Kennel Club/Dogs Trust.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
