The Government has dropped controversial plans for compulsory third party pet insurance for dogs, barely a week after they were published.
The proposals would have forced more than five million dog owners to buy third party pet insurance against the risk of their animal attacking someone.
They were launched last week by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn and Home Secretary Alan Johnson, but Mr Benn has now said he can "rule out" compulsory insurance for all dogs.
The plans were a response to a growing problem of dogs being used as weapons on inner city estates and would have also included changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act.
But they provoked an angry response from critics who said the measures would hit law-abiding owners whose dogs did not cause any damage.
In a statement, Mr Benn said he didn't want to penalise "responsible dog owners".
Instead, he said only dogs causing trouble could face being targeted with an insurance requirement as part of a control order or "Dogbo".
Association of British Insurers director of general insurance and health Nick Starling said: "We are pleased that the Government has dropped the unworkable proposal.
"Compulsory insurance is always difficult to enforce. The very people that the Government is targeting - those who mistreat their dogs or use them as weapons - are the same people who would not buy cover if it was available."
