Italian city orders dog owners to wash away urine or face €500 fine

Dog owners must carry water bottles and sprayers to clean pavements, benches and even the wheels of parked cars and scooters. Photograph: Getty

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.