September 12, 1975

Redditch should take the lead in trying to change people's ideas about pets, especially dogs, according to a local councillor.

"The whole attitude to dogs has got to be changed as far as the law is concerned and as far as health is concerned," Councillor Ken Maynard told the council's environmental health committee.

"I think we have got to lead and try and put this to the Home Office," he continued. "We should press for a change in the law and we have got to get the crazy attitude changed throughout the country."

Councillor Maynard's particular complaint was that the dog warden which the council employs cannot impound dogs which roam the streets if they have name collars, which they are supposed to have, because then they are not strays.

"Let us call them 'lost' and he can take them away," Councillor John Coleman suggested.

A letter is to go to the Department of Health and Social Security asking for a "massive publicity campaign" to be launched to try to change people's attitudes towards animals.