Rome, Sept 04: When in Rome, watch where you step. The streets of the Italian capital are a minefield of dog droppings and the mayor, Walter Veltroni, has had enough.
Accompanied by city officials he descended on the capital to nab dog walkers who turn a blind eye to their pet's bathroom habits, Italian media reported on Wednesday.
The penalty: a hefty 100 euros fine for those who fail to carry the necessary poop scooping kit when walking their dog -- and 100 should they forget to use it. "Having a dog automatically means having a spade and rubbish bags too...Hopefully, the more we insist on this the more Romans will start to get the message," daily La Repubblica quoted Veltroni as saying.

Bureau Report