A WILDLIFE park near Burford has been named the best place to take a dog out for the day after winning a national competition.

Cotswold Wildlife Park, in Bradwell Grove, received the most nominations from the public in the Kennel Club’s Be Dog Friendly Awards for the day out category.

The park’s managing director, Reggie Heyworth, said the park, opened in 1970 by his father John Heyworth, was once barred from being a member of the UK Zoo Federation because it allowed dogs on the premises.

Mr Heyworth, who owns a black Labrador, said: “It means a lot to everyone here to receive this award.

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“Many of our staff are devoted dog owners, and in the early days of the wildlife park we were alone in the zoo community for allowing dogs on the premises “In those days we were under a lot of pressure to ban dogs, but my father, the founder of the park, was never without his dogs trotting along behind him, so it was out of the question that we would ban dogs.

“I’m afraid to say some people still criticise us for allowing dogs but the only problems have been because of irresponsible owners, and never the dogs themselves.

“We all support the Kennel Club in its ongoing efforts to encourage responsibility amongst all dog owners.”

The competition, launched this year, is held to recognise businesses and places to visit that support dogs and their owners.

Park staff received the award at the Kennel Club’s Discover Dogs event in Earls Court, London on Sunday, November 9.

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