Manuela gets tough with dog poo
Source: No-longer-here from Pixabay
Bad owners to sweep streets in Madrid's war on dog poo
Madrid’s mayor has unveiled harsh new penalties for dog owners who fail to pick up after their pets; pay a €750 fine or spend the weekend sweeping the streets.
The left-wing mayor, who was elected to office last May, said the city was preparing a raft of new bylaws in the battle to clean up the capital.A fine of €750 will be imposed on owners who fail to pick up after their pets, a fine that can be converted into hours spent cleaning the streets at weekends instead.
But the penalties are not reserved exclusively for irresponsible dog owners. The same punishment awaits those caught spitting or littering in public areas, including the disposal of cigarette butts and chewing gum.
Washing a car in the street, shaking a rug out of a window or allowing plants to drip water into the streets also carry the €750 fine.
But those who are caught urinating or defacating in the street will face the maximum fine of €1,500.
"I think culprits will be surprised at the harshness of the penalties, so we are going to introduce a system to substitute the fines for street cleaning duties," explained Manuela Carmena, Madrid’s mayor from the left wing Ahora Madrid party.
The mayor said police would be extra vigilant for dog excrement offenders, beefing up patrols during peak dog-walking hours.
"We need to send a message," she said.
Councils across Spain are struggling to tackle dog owners who fail to clean up after their pets, with several towns introducing the use of DNA testing on messes to track down the culprits.
Do you agree with the new measure?
Other poo stories: Pick up your Dog's Poo, Remember to Flush after your Dog and Elephant Poo Coffee.
Comments
I Read this article, I'm agree only with some measures. I think that a fine for shaking a rug or allowing plants to drip water into the streets is a "little bit" exaggerated and the use of Dna testing on messes is absolutly hilarious.
Irina
When I was a child it was much more common than nowadays to respect that rules.
However, now it's common to go for a walk around Madrid and you feel water from plants and dust from shaken rugs over your head and shoulders.
You should check out some of the posts about Italy though I should warn you some of my opinions about the Bel Paese might be negative.
I have read this article. I only agree with some measures. I think that a fine for shaking a rug or allowing plants to drip water onto the streets is a "little bit" harsh and the use of Dna testing on messes is absolutly hilarious.
Perhaps they should be made to go to classes to learn good manners.
I would hope that most dog owners are responsible but even if just 1% of them fail to pick up their dog's mess, that is an awful lot of shit. Something has to be done.
I think it's a great idea. It's so annoying when you step on them, especially if you pick up yours.
When I was a child it was much more common to respect the rules than nowadays.
Of course, problems like those mentioned in the article are found in most countries. However, I think they are more common in Spain because the Spanish tend to think it is always someone else's job to clear up their mess.
The Spanish custom of dropping their rubbish onto the floor in bars is evidence of this characteristic.
I remember once when I pointed to the litter and told her she had dropped something, the girl just shrugged her shoulders. Her mother was with her and said nothing.
I welcome the city hall getting tough with offenders.
... Some months ago, she wanted mothers to clean schools or kids to pick up cigarette butts. However, I think that we are sometimes un-civic. On the other hand, I think that some measures are hilarious and ridiculous like the use of DNA or fining people for dripping water from plants. My conclusion is that Madrid is dirty because of the lack of dustmen.
I have read this article and I liked for learn new vocabulary. However in my opinion the main problem in Madrid and also in Spain is in for the lack of EDUCATION. It doesn't matter what new law or how much have to pay for a fine. I'm sick of see people who shooting a paper on the floor and has a bin next to him. I agree that Madrid is dirty, and it's a great fine and maybe it could work, but there are a lot of things to change before.
Thanks,
Nuria
You should be reading as much as possible. It really helps with improving your range of vocabulary.
I have read this article and I liked it to learn new vocabulary. However, in my opinion the main problem in Madrid and also in Spain is the lack of EDUCATION. It doesn't matter if there is a new law or how big a fine you have to pay.
I'm sick of seeing people who drop litter and they have a bin next to them.
I agree that Madrid is dirty, and it's a huge fine and maybe it could work, but there are a lot of things to change beforehand.