MSP’s pooch is Holyrood dog star
A three-month-old Cocker Spaniel belonging to a West Scotland MSP has won the ‘paw- litical’ title Holyrood Dog of the Year.
Leo, whose best friend is Maurice Golden, impressed the judges in the Kennel Cluborganised event with his charming nature and devotion to his owner and his constituents.
Mr Golden said: “I am delighted to win Holyrood Dog of the Year. Leo is certainly the cutest dog but the main reason we are here is to highlight the importance of animal welfare.
“The work the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust do for animal welfare is amazing and we all need to rally round to continue making a difference for dogs.”
The annual Holyrood Dog of the Year competition, which is also organised by Dogs Trust, took place yesterday in the Scottish Parliament gardens at Horse Wynd, Edinburgh.
Leo s h ow e d d o g g e d determination to defeat 10 opponents belonging to other MSPs to win the coveted title.
The MSPs entering the competition campaigned hard, canvassing for votes from the public before meeting the expert judges.
The judging panel – Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, the Kennel Club’s Bill Lambert, last year’s winner and current sponsor of the event Emma Harper MSP – spent the morning with dogs from different political persuasions and ambitions.
Paula Boyden, Dogs Trust Veterinary Director, said: “What a tremendous day celebrating all the wonderful dogs at Holyrood today. This is our second Holyrood Dog of the Year competition and we couldn’t be happier with the outcome, with so many MSPs taking part. It was an incredibly tough decision but Leo and Maurice really stood out for us and they should be very proud of their win. We would like to thank all the MSPs and the dogs for taking part.”
Bill Lambert from the Kennel Club added: “Congratulations to Leo and Maurice for placing first at Holyrood today. It was a really close competition and the pair clearly had a strong bond which really impressed the judges.
“All the MSPs and their dogs who took part were worthy winners and the competition is a fantastic way to raise awareness of the issues affecting man’s best friend today and highlights the unique relationships between MSPs and their dogs. We wish Leo all the best for the year ahead, reigning as Scotland’s top dog.”