The animal welfare world is mourning the loss of a "trailblazing" RSPCA inspector after she lost her two-year battle with cancer, aged just 47. 

Mum-of-two Kirsty Withnall grew up in Hertfordshire and was a case officer with the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit (SOU).

She was always an animal lover, with a particular passion for horses.

She became one of the RSPCA’s most inspirational inspectors, and one of its most formidable investigators, cracking some of the biggest puppy farming gangs and dog fighting networks in the UK.

The ‘icing on the cake’ of her career came shortly before her death, when she was presented with the Colin Spedding Award by HRH The Princess Royal on behalf of the National Equine Forum.

The award is presented annually to an exceptional unsung hero of the equestrian world, with Kirsty receiving the 2024 award for her contribution to equine welfare.

Kirsty, who applied to the RSPCA inspection training programme aged just 22, joined the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit in 2015.

The unit investigates serious and organised animal crime, including the commercial importation, breeding and selling of puppies; animal fighting and wildlife persecution. 

During her career, she was instrumental in a number of major high-profile cases, including rescuing 147 horses from a farm in Buckinghamshire, and leading the case into a fraudulent puppy dealing gang in London, who made £2.5million selling more than 5,000 puppies over five years.

Speaking earlier this year, Kirsty said: "When I look back over my career, I am reminded that I am doing the exact job that was always meant for me.

"I can honestly say I love my job. I am so proud to work for the RSPCA and, if I think back to all those animals I have had a part in helping, I’m really humbled."

RSPCA SOU Chief Inspector Will Mitchell said: "Kirsty was an exceptional investigator and rescuer, a fierce advocate for animal welfare, and a wonderful colleague and friend.

"She never failed to dazzle people with her unwavering commitment to improving animal welfare and her relentless tenacity to bring justice to animal abusers.

"They broke the mould when they made Kirsty, and she was a trailblazer and a huge influencer for the way we investigate cruelty.

"She was a fearless and formidable investigator, while also ensuring she showed every single animal and human who crossed her path complete empathy, kindness and compassion.

"She loved her job, she loved all of the animals she worked with, and she loved the RSPCA. She unapologetically, whole-heartedly believed in our goal and did everything she could to help create a kinder world for animals.

"We’re devastated that our time with Kirsty was cut so short and that her family and friends have had to say goodbye in the cruellest of circumstances, but her legacy lives on every day through the wags, purrs and frolics of the thousands of animals’ lives she saved."