New rule could see city dog owners fined £100

Wolverhampton City Council is preparing to extend a city-wide Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for another three years, with new dog rules aimed at reducing the costs of managing stray animals. The current PSPO expires at the end of September, and councillors will consider renewal when the cabinet meets on September 2. Breaching lead and other restrictions could lead to a £100 fine. A further proposed rule would require every dog to wear a collar with the owner’s name and address. The council says it handles 280 to 350 stray dogs annually, with fewer than 5% carrying ID tags, forcing wardens to rely on costly approved kennels when microchips are not up to date.