WOKE Greens have been branded barking mad over their plans to license dog owners and ban zoos.
Zack Polanski’s party wants to lump keepers of hounds with a form of tax so it can “regulate the care and conditions” of their pets.
Their official policy states they oppose “wholesale breeding, manipulation and destruction of those animals who are chosen as companions to the human race”.
The party also wants to “abolish zoos and private collections of animals”, the policy adds.
Zoo licences would only be granted to places saving injured animals or to breed endangered species for release into the wild.
Dog licences were abolished in 1987. Pets have had to be microchipped since 2016.
Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “The Greens are barking mad for wanting to put dog owners on a very expensive lead and shut the UK’s highly-respected zoos.
“Zoos inspire millions of children about wildlife and do vital conservation work for endangered species.
“The Green killjoys want to throw this all away, while making dog ownership unaffordable. It’s a dog’s dinner of a policy.”
It comes after the Greens leapfrogged Labour into second place in a poll.
The eco warriors rose four points in the wake of last month’s victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election.
They now have 21 per cent of the vote — just two points behind Reform UK’s 23 per cent, a YouGov survey found.
A Green Party spokesman said: “We are a nation of animal lovers. Our policies on the cost of living, NHS, public services and the environment are proving increasingly popular with voters.
“Our policies on improving animal welfare, we’re sure will prove just as popular.”
