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The number of stray dogs has been falling in recent years - down from 135,000 a decade ago to 105,000 last year. More dog wardens at work and an increase in the number of dogs being neutered have driven the improvements.

But there are fears that there could soon be more strays on the streets. From April, local authorities will have to provide a stray dog service around the clock. And research carried out by the Eye on Wales programme suggests that many Welsh councils will struggle to meet their new obligations.

The responsibility for stray dogs is currently shared between local authorities and the police. Councils have a legal obligation to employ dog wardens to pick up stray or unwanted dogs during the working day. At night and at weekends, the police have a long-standing legal duty to accept strays brought to them by members of the public.

But across England and Wales many police stations, even whole forces, no longer have kennels - so the system is about to change. Councils will take sole responsibility for stray dogs, but with little extra funding on offer, animal welfare organisations are concerned that the new approach will fail both dogs and owners.