Owners face £100 tag fines in stray dog crackdown

Dog owners could face a fine if their pet is in a public place without a collar and tag under new rules being introduced in Wolverhampton.

As part of a renewed public spaces protection order (PSPO) to crack down on the number of stray dogs in the city, all canines must wear a collar and tag containing the owner's name and address or other contact details.

The measure is an existing legal requirement but inclusion in the order means those who do not comply, face an on-the-spot £100 fine, the city council said.

Dogs found without a collar and tag in public may be seized and taken into care, the council said, adding it deals with between 250 and 350 stray dogs a year.

The local authority said less than 5% of these stray dogs had ID tags.

"We know that the vast majority of dog owners are very responsible and we would encourage all owners to follow the safety measures to help us create a clean and safe public environment," said councillor Qaiser Azeem.

The new requirement, agreed by cabinet on Wednesday, was proposed as a way to help officers identify stray dogs and reunite them with their owners.

The measures do not apply to assistance dogs.

It comes under an update to the city's Dog Control Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) which will come into force on 1 October and run until 2029.

The city council said a 12-week public consultation found people strongly in favour of the order, which includes owners having to clear dog waste immediately and dogs to be on leads near main roads and schools.

Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.