DOG owners are being warned to prioritise their canine accessories after a pooch was found wearing a tank top but no security tag.

Cherwell District Council is urging people to microchip their dogs and wear an identity tag when in public or risk being fined.

It comes after a Chinese Crested Doig was found wearing a "Born to Be Wild" tank top but no collar or identification details.

The council's senior dog warden Neil Greenway said: "We all like to treat our dogs to nice things but the most important accessory any pooch should be modelling is an identification tag and microchip.

"Unfortunately in this case the owner prioritised fashion over functionality and the lack of a tag or a microchip meant we were unable to trace this dog’s owner and this little old lady was sent for rehoming.

"If the owner had spent more time choosing the right accessories for their pet then perhaps there would have been a very different ending to this sad story."

The council said the female, hairless dog was picked up in Banbury at the end of July.

The dog was held in kennels for seven days, but when she was not claimed was sent for rehoming.

As of April this year dog owners who do not get their canines microchipped could face a £500 fine or criminal conviction.