Dogs have rules too

VIENNA, the capital of Austria, is graced by its wealth of art, music, museums and parks. But some locals are saying that the city's charm is damaged by dog owners who don't clean up after their pets.

And, last week they came up with a solution. There is a citywide campaign telling dog owners to pick up after their dogs. That means don't leave a mess on city streets and in parks.

"We want to reach as many dog owners as possible to remind them of the rules," said Ulli Sima, city councillor in charge of the environment.

"[We want to] show them the easiest solution to the problem: put it in a bag and then in the next rubbish bin," said Sima.

There are about 158,000 dogs in Vienna. The city requires their owners to bag the pet's mess when walking it outdoors. But it is believed that only a minority of the city's dog lovers actually follow the rules.

Every day dogs drop between 5 and 10 tons of their waste around the city. Vienna spends 7 million euros (70 million yuan) every year just to keep the streets mess-free.

Lax enforcement is to blame. Dog owners say they pay 40 euros each year for their pet. But the city argues the dog license fee has nothing to do with cleaning up dog messes.

The fine for leaving a dog mess is high — as much as 72 euros. The rules, however, are seldom enforced.

City officials said that the campaign was not meant to be an attack on dog owners.

"The city does a lot for peaceful co-existence by establishing areas for dogs or providing bags for dog waste. But dog owners must do their part as well and accept these offers," said Sima.

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campaign: 运动

co-existence: 共存

councillor: 地方议员

enforcement: 执行

mess: 动物的粪便

grace: 使增光

lax: 不严格的

rubbish bin: 垃圾箱

Vienna: 维也纳

Worldwide pet policies COUNTRIES have their own rules for dog owners so that people can co-exist happily with the animals. Austria: Dog owners must get a licence when the dog is three months old. A rabies vaccination is required. The dog must be kept on a leash in public places. Dangerous dogs must wear a muzzle. Dogs are allowed in most public places at all times, including on buses. But dogs on public transport must wear a muzzle and the owner must buy the dog a ticket. China: All dogs require a licence and a rabies vaccination. In some cities, such as Shanghai, neighbours' approval is required. In Beijing, the licence is 5,000 yuan for the first year and 2,000 yuan annually after that. A home can only have one dog and dogs are not allowed in some public places like supermarkets. In Beijing they are only allowed outdoors on a leash between 8 pm and 7 am. US: Most states require a dog over four months old to have a licence. Fees range from a few dollars to 30 dollars. Dogs also need a rabies vaccination. The dog must wear a licence tag with the owner's name and address on it at all times. Most states put a maximum limit of five dogs for one home. Owners can get insurance to cover injury to the dog or damage done by the dog. annually: 每年地 approval: 同意 leash: 系狗的皮带 muzzle: 动物的口套 public transport: 公共交通 rabies: 狂犬病 tag: 标签 vaccination: 接种