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Under current practise, a dog is injured in a road accident is the responsibility of the police. Any other injured dog not involved in a road accident is referred to the RSPCA.

The animal welfare charity is then responsible for taking the dog to a vet and transporting it to Harpurhey Dogs' Home after treatment.

The RSPCA complains they are being made to pay for something the council receives government funding for. Manchester City Council receives funds to deal with strays but not injured dogs and argues it will not be able to afford vet fees.

The Department of Environment has suggested authorities should make an agreement with a vet to treat injured dogs.

It is recommended the council should then recover the costs from charges for returning dogs to owners once they have been identified or by selling unclaimed strays.

Manchester City Council officials say any change in responsibility for injured animals could put financial pressure on the authority.

Decisions on whether or not to treat an injured dog would have to be based on costs and dogs that might otherwise survive expensive surgery and go on to live a fulfilled life, could be put down.

The council might then face legal action from angry owners who discover a prized pedigree or a beloved family pet has been needlessly destroyed.

An official said: "Difficult decisions would have to be made on economic grounds about whether to treat or destroy the injured dog which may result in legal action by the owner against the council."