Unsung Heroes 2026 & Philippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award

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Every year the All-Party Parliamentary Dog Advisory Welfare Group (APDAWG) hosts a unique event to provide a platform for campaigners & lesser-known orgs to help celebrate & spread awareness of the wonderful work they're doing, often with minimal resources, for both dog & often human welfare.

On this special evening we will also present APDAWG's Philippa Robinson Dog Welfare Award to someone who's gone over & above to campaign for & promote dog welfare.

Guest speakers incl:

• Vanessa Wadden - Hope Rescue, Wales: Vanessa Waddon is the founder & CEO of Hope Rescue, a dog rescue charity in Llanharan, South Wales primarily taking in strays, as well as dogs seized from illegal & low welfare breeders on behalf of local authorities. She is a member of the Management Committee for the Animal Welfare Network for Wales & Trustee for the Association of Dogs & Cats Homes, plus a strong advocate for working beyond the charity’s gates, tackling the root causes of poor dog welfare through preventative work in the community & lobbying for legislative change. 
• Angela Southcott - Dogs for Autism UK 
• Patrick Gerard - Director of Advocacy at the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM)
• Natashya Sheppard - Animal Assisted Services through Dementia Dog Service
• Karen Lawe  - Deaf Dog Network 
• Tara Quinn - Human Animal Welfare Alliance: Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo is a Psychologist, author, broadcaster & podcast host. She is also the founder of The Human Animal Welfare Alliance which supports the emotional health of those working in animal rescue.
• Jenny Maher - Animal Welfare Evidence Centre

Join us after the meeting for drinks, food & networking at a nearby venue generously sponsored by Agria Pet Insurance.