The winner of this year’s Westminster Dog of the Year competition is Torres, an 18 month old Pug owned by Tony Baldry, Conservative MP for Banbury.

Torres beat off stiff competition from 16 other parliamentary pooches nipping at his heels to become this year’s top dog, taking over the prestigious title from Zack, a Bedlington Terrier belonging to Vera Baird QC MP.

In second place, is Milly, a 3 and a half year old Welsh Springer Spaniel owned by Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield. And third is Bell, a 15 month old Collie Spaniel Crossbreed owned by Lord Renton of Mount Harry.

Now in its 13th year, the Westminster Dog of the Year competition is run by Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club. The aim of this lighthearted event is to highlight the special relationship between a dog and their owner and promote responsible dog ownership. Torres was judged as the winner by Clarissa Baldwin of Dogs Trust and Ronnie Irving of the Kennel Club, assisted by Vera Baird QC MP, owner of the current title-holder, Zack.

Torres owner’ Tony Baldry comments:

"Torres is a great dog who loves to be fussed over and make people smile. He loves to campaign every year on Poppy Day and will be making sure everyone knows that he has won Westminster Dog of the Year 2005!"

Both Dogs Trust and Kennel Club are encouraging all of those barking mad canines and their bark-bencher owners that missed out this year to get in training now for Westminster Dog of the Year 2006!