Amanda Milling MP, Member of Parliament for Cannock Chase, is calling on local residents to support Staffordshire Regimental Mascot, Sgt Watchman V, in the Westminster Dog of the Year competition.

The year's Westminster Dog of the Year competition will take place on September 8th in Parliament and will see the canine comrades of MPs and Peers battle it out to be named Westminster Dog of the Year - arguably the most sought after title in politics.

The competition is organised by the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust and the winner is in part chosen by a public online vote. The competition celebrates the unique bond between man and dog - and aims to promote responsible dog ownership. It is open to all dogs, regardless of breed, creed or pawlitical persuasion.

Sgt Watchman V has been nominated by Staffordshire MPs Amanda Milling, Jeremy Lefory, Andrew Griffiths, Christopher Pincher, Gavin Williamson, Bill Cash and Michael Fabricant. The MPs are keen to see our local regimental mascot crowned Parliament’s top dog.

Amanda Milling MP Said; “Watchman is a true Staffordshire icon and is the first military mascot to make it to the short list of the Westminster dog of the year competition. I am calling on everyone in Staffordshire and the Black Country to vote for him in the competition and help him get the recognition he so rightly deserves.”

Adding; “The Watchman mascot is a unique tradition and is owned by all the people of Staffordshire. The tradition goes back generations. When a Watchman is lost, not only does another take his place, but the previous mascot is buried with full military honours. Something unheard of elsewhere in the country. As a public figure and a proud representative of Staffordshire’s fighting men and women, this honour would be shared by them and the whole of the Staffordshire regimental family, truly touching the hearts of a whole county.”

The mascot tradition in the Regiments of Staffordshire (which includes Staffordshire and the Black Country) stretches back to the 19th Century. In 1882 The South Staffordshire Regiment was ordered to march with Lord Wolseley to the relief of General Gordon who was besieged in Khartoum. They entrained at Cairo with their Staffordshire Bull Terrier, “Boxer”. Unfortunately Boxer leapt from the moving train and was seen lying unconscious or dead at the side of the track. A few days later when the Regiment encamped at Assiut awaiting orders for the final phase of their march, a very thin and bedraggled dog staggered into their camp and collapsed. Boxer had walked for over 200 miles along the scorching desert railway track to rejoin his regiment, a true soldier. From then on the tradition of having a Bull Terrier as a mascot continued with the battalions until after the Second World War. Since then the mascots have all been called Watchman, with one taking over from previous mascot.

WO2 Greg Hedges, Handler of Watchman said; “It is a great honour to have Watchman recognised in such a prestigious competition. Watchman is a familiar sight at local parades and military events and we hope everyone can get behind him and support his nomination. It would mean so much for the Staffordshire Regimental family.”

Adrian Burder, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, explains: "The Westminster Dog of the Year competition is so much more than a canine beauty pageant. The competition is strictly apolitical; judges will be looking for the dog’s good deeds and devotion to their owner - rather than policies, opinions or 'bottle'."

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, continued; "The serious side of this competition is about MPs getting together with the Kennel Club and Dogs Trust to promote responsible dog ownership and develop a partnership on dog welfare issues. The competition itself is light-hearted and an entertaining day out - not least because of the unusual criteria on which the dogs are judged!"

To vote for Sgt Watchman V in the competition please visit http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/events/westminster-dog-of-the-year/sgt-watchman-v