An MSP has been left paws-itively delighted after her beloved pooch took home a prize at a recent awards ceremony.
Pam Duncan-Glancy, the Glasgow list MSP who covers Rutherglen as part of her area, was canvassing for canine votes recently at the Holyrood Dog of the Year contest on behalf of Tony, a four-year-old cockapoo.
Pam and her pet came second in the competition, just whiskers behind the winner, Mabel, a one-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer, belonging to Christine Grahame, the Scottish National Party MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
Returning for the first time since 2019, the fourth Holyrood Dog of the Year competition was organised by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust and saw over a dozen dogs entered.
The MSPs entering the competition campaigned hard, canvassing for votes from the public before meeting the expert judges to share their dog’s heroic deeds and acts of devotion.
However as well as being a fun event for the politicians there was a more serious side too, as the event focused on promoting responsible dog ownership and making sure that, alongside the joys of having a dog, owners recognise the responsibility they have to ensure that their pet is a positive member of the community and is able to live a happy and healthy life.
Additionally, the competition encouraged an open dialogue on dog welfare issues, as well as providing an opportunity for MSPs to meet with experts to discuss all aspects of the canine world.
Ms Duncan-Glancy told Lanarkshire Live: “It seems like my love for Tony is shared by so many other people. Tony is honoured to have earned second place, especially alongside Mabel, Ollie and Bluesy and they are all such lovely dogs as well. He is over the moon I think!”
The judging panel consisted of Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust Chief Executive; Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club and Jeremy Balfour, the Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian and 2019 winner.
Owen Sharp, Dogs Trust Chief Executive added: “With the last Holyrood Dog of the Year taking place in 2019, it is wonderful to be back in Edinburgh to celebrate our canine companions.
"Shortlisting just three is never easy and there is no doubt all the dogs are winners, but congratulations to Tony and Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP who stood out because of their special bond. Thank you to all the MSPs and their devoted dogs for taking part and for making this year's event so memorable."
In third place was Ollie, a Dogs Trust rescue dog, accompanied by MSP Clare Adamson, Scottish National Party MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw.
The competition also had a winner decided solely from the public vote which was Bluesy, a Greyhound, owned by MSP Mark Ruskell, Scottish Green Party MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.
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