Bring back dog licences, says Leeds councillor as thawing snow reveals 'epidemic'

Coun Robert Finnigan says the money raised from selling dog licences would pay for road cleaning and a crackdown on irresponsible owners

At present Leeds has just five wardens and 92,000 dogs. Coun Finnigan wants each owner to pay 10 towards boosting warden numbers.

He said: "I get at least one complaint a week about dog fouling. It is getting to be an epidemic.

"It's come to the fore again recently because of the snow we have had. It's melted away revealing a lot of mess.

"I know some people will be critical of reintroducing a dog licence but it is a fact that a substantial number of dog owners do not clean up after their dogs.

"The council's service is stretched and needs additional financial help and this seems a fair way of raising those funds.

"As a dog owner myself I think it is reasonable to pay a licence that works out at less than 20p a week to contribute towards cleaner streets and better enforcement."

Coun Finnigan, who has a poodle named Toby, said a computer system would be needed to administrate the scheme, possibly linked to the existing pet microchip database.

Animals caught fouling could be identified and those without a licence would be confiscated and held until their owners paid up.

Coun Finnigan also wants to see places like children's play areas and sports fields designated "dog free zones".

In this case anyone even caught walking their dog there could be fined.

The independent councillor for Morley North said: "Presently enforcement officers can only take action if they witness a dog fouling in an area and the mess is not cleared up.

"The designating of a dog free zone will mean they can issue a penalty notice if a dog is within the perimeter of a designated zone which prevents any potential for dog fouling."

Coun Finnigan will raise the issue of reintroducing an annually-renewed dog licence at the next full council meeting in April.

Dog licences were abolished in the UK in 1987 when they cost 37p. At the time it was thought the administration costs outweighed the benefits.

They were replaced with new dog control measures contained in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.