We are excited to be supporting a new community-led awards initiative that has launched to celebrate meaningful pet-human stories across Colchester.
The Colchester Pet Awards have been created by local pet care business Ginger and Tails to recognise the resilience, character and companionship of much-loved local pets, while also shining a light on the powerful role animals play in people’s lives.
Open to dogs, cats, small animals, horses, reptiles and other companion pets, the awards are free to enter and include five categories for local people to take part in.
Level Best Enterprises is proud to sponsor the Community and Character Award, which celebrates animals whose character has made a meaningful difference to the people around them. This could be through bravery, emotional support, resilience, or a positive impact within their home or community.
Celebrating Local Pets and Their Stories
The Colchester Pet Awards were created by Ginger and Tails founder Holly Smart, who launched the business in 2022. Ginger and Tails operates across South Colchester and provides in-home pet sitting and small group dog walks, with a strong focus on animal welfare.
Holly said: “Ginger and Tails sits firmly in the heart of my local community, that’s why I often like to come up with ideas to bring people together, and the Colchester Pet Awards are no different. It’s not only going to be amazing to see the animals we love get the recognition they deserve, but also to hear about all the love and dedication owners put in to giving their animals the best lives possible.”
Award Categories
Each category has been sponsored by a local organisation with strong links to the Colchester community.
The 2026 award categories are:
- The Community and Character Award, sponsored by Level Best Enterprises, celebrates animals whose character has made a meaningful difference to the people around them.
- The Rescue Success Story Award, sponsored by RSPCA Essex Mid & North Branch CIO. This award celebrates rescued animals who have found safety, stability and happiness in a new home, and the people who helped them along the way.
- The Behaviour Breakthrough Award, sponsored by The Mayne Veterinary Clinic, recognises animals who have made meaningful progress in overcoming behavioural challenges with patience, understanding and dedication from their owners.
- The Young Handler Award, sponsored by The Colchester Vets, celebrates children and teenagers who show exceptional kindness, responsibility and dedication in caring for an animal.
- The Golden Years Award, sponsored by Fat Cat Colchester, honours senior animals who have shared many years of companionship and the loving care they receive as they grow older.
Who Can Enter?
The Colchester Pet Awards are open to pet owners across Colchester and the surrounding CO1, CO2, CO3, CO4, CO5 and CO6 postcode areas.
Every entry needs a written story and a photograph.
Entries close at 12 pm on Saturday, 6 June 2026, with winners announced in late June.
The winners of each category will receive a certificate and a trophy.
How the Awards Will Be Judged
The awards will be judged by a small independent panel including Holly Smart from Ginger and Tails, Magda Michalik, Owner of Model Mutts Canine Behaviour, Dr Joanna Rodak-Smith MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and Founder of The Colchester Vets, Anna Drake, Branch Manager of RSPCA Essex Mid & North Branch CIO, and Rebecca Attril, Registered Veterinary Nurse at The Mayne Veterinary Clinic.
Level Best’s Support for the Awards
As a dog-friendly café and inclusive community space in Colchester, we see every day how much joy, comfort and connection animals can bring.
Alison Ling, Manager at Level Best Enterprises, said: “As a dog-friendly café, Level Best is delighted to support the Colchester Pet Awards and celebrate the important role pets play in people’s lives. We see every day how much joy, comfort and connection animals bring, and as an inclusive community space, we’re proud to welcome dogs and their owners, complete with treats and Puppuccinos.
A Space to Remember Much-Loved Pets
For those who are grieving the loss of a beloved pet and still want a special way to honour them, Holly has also created a space on the Ginger and Tails website where people can share a photograph of their pet alongside a special memory in tribute to their much-loved pet.
Enter the Colchester Pet Awards
Entries are now open.
To enter the Colchester Pet Awards, visit:
https://gingerandtails.co.uk/colchester-pet-awards-2026/
To leave a tribute in memory of a pet, visit:
