At Stephens, which has allowed pets since 2004, only one residence hall permits pets, and students must abide by rules addressing such issues as noise, grooming and waste disposal.

MSN: Stressed over a test? Pet your pooch

Last year the Football Association of Wales Trust development officer Tim Broome said dog owners who allowed their pets to foul on sports pitches should be named and shamed.

BBC: Welshpool dog ban: Council plan to control fouling

"It's one at a time, and it's fairly slow work, " said Michael Mountain, president and CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, one of the first animal organizations allowed into the city to rescue pets.

CNN: Pet rescuers race against time

Indeed, in some respects the government has been ever so quietly relaxing the ban: guidance issued by the agriculture ministry in March allowed beef bones to be supplied for pets.

ECONOMIST: The beef ban