A late RSPCA inspector who dedicated her life to fighting animal cruelty has been honoured with a special award at the Charity Today Awards
Kirsty Withnall, who died in April following a battle with cancer, was posthumously awarded with the Animal Welfare Award at the ceremony, held on Wednesday (16 October) at Orton Hall Hotel & Spa, in Cambridgeshire.
Kirsty’s family attended the ceremony with her RSPCA colleagues, Acting Head of Special Operations Ian Briggs and Chief Inspector Will Mitchell, to collect the award in her memory.
Kirsty, from Buckinghamshire, worked tirelessly for the RSPCA for 23 years, first as an Inspector and then a specialist Equine Officer, before joining the charity’s Special Operations Unit to investigate the most serious and organised animal crime.
Kirsty’s manager, Chief Inspector Mitchell, said: “We’re so proud that Kirsty has been posthumously honoured with this award, it’s certainly well deserved.
“She leaves an incredible legacy behind after having such a positive impact on so many animals’ lives. She was an inspiring and fearless investigator and rescuer, and an avid advocate for animal welfare.
“She was also a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend – and we were incredibly privileged to have worked beside her, and learn from her compassion and kindness.”
The event seeks to bring together the most inspiring and impactful causes from across the country. This year’s ceremony, filled with inspiring stories and shared successes, demonstrated the power of the charity sector to transform lives and build stronger communities.
Founder of the Charity Today Awards and UK Charity Week, Lee Rayment, said: “Kirsty’s passion and commitment to animal welfare were truly inspiring, and the judges felt it was important to honour her memory in a meaningful way by awarding her the Animal Welfare Award.”
Horse-lover Kirsty – who also served as a director for the National Equine Welfare Council – earned a reputation as a formidable and committed investigation, with a detailed understanding of animal welfare legislation.
She helped tackle cruelty on a huge scale, capturing headlines across the UK as she and colleagues rescued more than 100 horses from a farm in Buckinghamshire; leading the case into a puppy dealing gang in London who made millions of pounds selling thousands of sick puppies; and coordinating the investigation into an international dog fighting gang that bred, kept and trained dogs for fighting.
Her work captured the attention of the media, and she was even a named character in author Peter James’ latest novel, Stop Them Dead, inspired by her work investigating puppy farming.
At the event, Kirsty’s father, late husband and brother were also presented with an extra award – the James E. Smith Special Recognition Award – which is named in memory of founder, Lee Rayment’s, grandfather Private James Edward Smith, who was a veteran of the Burma war.
The recipient of the award is chosen by Lee himself, who said: “The James E. Smith Special Recognition Award was presented to Kirsty’s family and colleagues at the RSPCA as a tribute to their dedication in ensuring that Kirsty’s work is remembered and acknowledged publicly today.”
