Chester MP Chris Matheson and his adorable four-legged friend Casper must be barking mad having missed out on the top spot in the Westminster Dog of the Year competition.
Animal lover Chris and one-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Casper, a Dogs Trust rescue, came a very ruff-spectable third in the annual contest which saw them compete against 15 other parliamentarians and their pooches on Thursday.
They were pipped to the post by Morley MP Andrea Jenkyns’ pet Lady and Godiva, and Penny Mordaunt with Malinois Carla.
A ‘very pleased’ Chris said he and Casper became firm friends fast.
“It’s a great event for raising awareness about responsible dog ownership and Casper has had lovely day out meeting his fellow pawlitical candidates,” he said.
“We struck up an instant bond and I’m so pleased that Casper was awarded a place in Westminster Dog of the Year!
“The family who adopts Casper will get a lovely and affectionate dog full of character and warmth who I know will become an important part of their family.”
This year’s competition – organised by the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust – focused on the need to protect access for dog-walkers to the UK’s open spaces and aimed to raise awareness of the health and welfare benefits that walking dogs brings to both dogs and their owners.
In addition to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards, the competition also had a winner decided solely from the public vote which was scooped by Rocco, a Cockapoo owned by the MP for East Devon, Hugo Swire.
