Caroline Spelman MP for Meriden teamed up with Dogs Trust Harefield rescue dog Harper in the 21st annual Westminster Dog of the Year competition. They made a paw-fect team and just missed out on a place on the main podium, however Harper was kindly named ‘Westminster Rescue Dog of the Year’ by the Chief Executive of Dogs Trust.
The competition, organised by the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, took place in Victoria Tower Gardens, Westminster. Harper showed dogged determination as she battled it out amongst 14 paw-litical dogs.
The MPs entering the competition campaigned hard, canvassing for votes from the public before meeting the expert judges to boast about their dog’s heroic deeds and acts of devotion.
Caroline said of Harper from Dogs Trust Harefield: “I had great fun getting to know Harper, who was just utterly lovable, and will make the most wonderful companion for the right person. I wanted to raise the profile of dogs like Harper, who deserve a good home. I was impressed to hear the amount of behavioural training, profiling and care each dog receives from the Dogs Trust, which makes it one of the best places to find a family dog. It also demonstrates how well dogs respond to responsible ownership, which of course gives serious paws for thought!”
The judging panel - Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust, Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, and MP Charlie Elphicke, owner of 2012’s winning dog Star - spent the morning with dogs from different political persuasions and ambitions.
Commenting on the 2013 Westminster Dog of the Year, Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary says: “Again this year we have seen lots of worthy dogs compete for this title and the bond each MP has with their dog is uniquely special. It was a delight to meet Harper with Caroline Spelman, they made a great team”
Clarissa Baldwin, CEO of Dogs Trust continued: “It is fantastic to see so many wonderful dogs in attendance with their devoted owners. It seems to get harder every year to pick the winner.”
The overall winner of the competition was Noodle, a Cockapoo owned by Rt Hon Alan Duncan MP for Rutland and Melton