Livorno council says residents have complained of foul smell after rise in number of pets

Dog owners in an Italian port city will be required to clean up their pets’ urine from public spaces or face fines of up to €500.

Luca Salvetti, the mayor of Livorno, on the Tuscan coast, introduced the measure after complaints from residents about the smell of dog urine, particularly in parks and children’s play areas.

Dog owners will be required to carry water bottles and sprayers to cleanse pavements, benches and even the wheels of parked cars and scooters.

Their pets are forbidden from urinating near doorways and windows, and especially by the entrances of shops, offices and homes.