Dog insurance ‘won’t survive’

Home Secretary Alan Johnson has back-tracked on proposals to force every dog owner in Britain to tag their pet and pay up to £600 a year insurance, the Express reports.

“Within hours of yesterday’s announcement he suggested that some of his plans ‘won’t survive’ Government scrutiny,” it said.

It quotes him as saying: “Insurance and microchipping is an important part of the consultation. Some things will survive, some won’t.”

The Tories warned abandoned dogs could be left roaming Britain’s streets if owners are forced to take out pet insurance.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell, Tory shadow animal welfare minister, said: “You finish up having ­people with the dangerous dogs not bothering to get their dog insured while the little old lady with her poodle would end up spending a lot of money on insurance.”