The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Animal Welfare, Alicia Bugeja Said, announced the opening of nominations for the sixth edition of the Animal Honours Awards, which will take place on 2nd October.These awards recognise individuals, organisations, sanctuaries, businesses and animals whose commitment and work make a positive difference in the field of animal protection and welfare.The Animal Honours Awards celebrate stories of courage, loyalty and dedication, as well as extraordinary acts of generosity. The awards recognise both those who dedicate their time and energy to improving the lives of animals and animals that, through their courage, loyalty or impact, have made a difference in people’s lives. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alicia Bugeja Said (@aliciabugejasaid)Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said stated, “Through the Animal Honours Awards, we want to express our gratitude, give greater visibility to the positive examples of proper animal care around us, and inspire more people to play their part.”She also emphasised the importance of people in animal welfare, mentioning volunteers who dedicate hours of their time, those who run sanctuaries, families who choose to adopt animals, and businesses that create pet-friendly environments.“Animal welfare is a collective responsibility, and everyone who chooses to make a difference is contributing towards the proper care and protection of animals,” Parliamentary Secretary Bugeja Said concluded.The Director of the Animal Welfare Department, Dennis Sciberras, said, “This event, which has been held for the past six years, recognises the many people who dedicate long hours of their time to animals. It also recognises businesses, animals and sanctuaries for their commitment to animal welfare. I encourage the public to submit their nominations.”Commissioner for Animal Welfare Elliot Magro said, “This is a very important event in which nominees are recognised for the work and sacrifices they make for the benefit of animals throughout the year. There are hundreds of people who dedicate their lives to animal welfare, and it is therefore fitting that we thank some of them for their efforts.”This year, the public can submit nominations across five categories:People’s Choice Award for Contribution to the Animal Welfare Sector – recognises an individual, organisation, initiative or animal that has made a significant and positive contribution to the animal welfare sector.Sanctuary Excellence Award – honours a sanctuary that provides excellent care and rehabilitation, maintains high welfare standards and makes an important contribution to animal protection.Volunteer of the Year – awarded to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment through voluntary service in support of animal welfare.Pet-Friendly Business Award – recognises a business that has created a welcoming environment for animals while promoting responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.Second Chance Companion Award – celebrates a successful adoption story in which an animal was given a second chance, found a loving home and made a positive impact on the life of its new family.The Animal Honours Awards process is divided into three stages. During the first stage, the public submits nominations. Once the nomination period closes, a judging panel evaluates the submissions and selects a shortlist for each category based on the information provided.The shortlisted nominees then proceed to a public vote. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes in each category will be announced as the winner.The public is encouraged to provide as much information and detail as possible about the nominated person, animal, organisation or business so that the judging panel can fully understand their story and contribution.Nominations remain open until 17th September 2026 and can be submitted through the Commissioner for Animal Welfare’s website.Share this with your favourite nominee now•