THE Mayoress of Trowbridge, Angela Cavill, has received the Unsung Hero Award at the canine Oscars at Crufts, the world's biggest dog show.
She received the Pawscars award at the end of a gala dinner on the evening before the Crufts dog show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
Since 1974, Mrs Cavill has been secretary and organiser of one of the UK's largest dog shows, the Southern Counties Canine Association's General Championship Show, which attracts an entry of 8,000 dogs.
She is one of the world's authorities on Finland's National Breed, the Finnish Spitz, which she has been breeding very successfully since 1970.
Her 2013 book on the breed, which she translated into Finnish in 2017 at the request of the Finnish Kennel Club, has been recognised as one of the best books on any breed ever written.
Mrs Cavill, of Hilperton Road, Trowbridge, said: "I was completely taken aback and overcome with the award. I am just very grateful that other people think that I am worthy of it."
The former teacher started breeding the Finnish Spitz after deciding that she wanted a dog to take on long walks.
"I gave up teaching and I wanted to go on long walks and I liked the look of them. They are very healthy dogs.
"I wanted a dog that is independent and not needing a lot of fuss all the time. They are also very affectionate."
Since she started breeding the Finnish Spitz in 1975 with her husband David, the current Trowbridge mayor, Mrs Cavill has raised a string of champions, breeding one or two litters a year.
The couple own the UK's most successful breeding prefix having bred or owned over 70 champions.
Since the competition for top breeder was launched in 1981 the Cavills have been the top breeders of all breeds every year but five and have always been included in the top four.
She also judges the Finnish Spitz breed and is the only foreign judge allowed to judge the breed in Finland.
Mrs Cavill is also a member of the UK Kennel Club and was a founder member of the Kennel Club Junior Organisation Council which was set up to encourage sensible dog ownership by young people.
She is a vice-president of the Finnish Spitz Club and was its secretary from 1984 to 1992, subsequently becoming its chairman. She also administered its rescue service. She has served as a member of the Shows Council of the Kennel Club.
Mrs Cavill first became involved with the Dogs Home Battersea in London during the late 1970s when she was appointed its public relations officer.
With her husband, she was joint manager of Bell Mead Kennels, Battersea Dogs' Home's country annex at Old Windsor for 11 years so was deeply involved in the world of stray and rescue dogs.
Mrs Cavill speaks Finnish and is a confirmed Finnophile, visiting Finland several times each year to work with dogs and to see her many friends.
She is a member of the English Speaking Union and is developing closer ties with the Finnish Embassy in the UK.
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