[Margaret Pilkington]

I'm sure you are right Dave........and I think that many animals who are in centres waiting to be homed will find it difficult to be placed.
After all we all take on the responsibility of an animal when our circumstances are in the pink(so to speak)....circumstances change, frequently for the worse.
Making the ownership of a dog more costly(and without any real benefits...because the rules may be brought in and not policed......and anyway the bad owners will flout regulations) will lead to healthy animals(family pets) being euthanised or abandoned, purely on a basis of cost.