27/03/2013 00:00
TW
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THE city council is shortly planning to mark out some twenty enclosed “doggy toilet” areas in Palma, as part of a programme it hopes to eventually extend to all parts of the municipality. The council reported yesterday that these spaces, or so-called “Doggy Parks” will be fenced in, and will have a minimum surface area of between 40 and 60 square metres. They will also be dotted with noticeboards giving advice on the care of pets. This week, the council will put two of these “doggy parks” into trial action, one situated at the junction of calle Pere Caffaro and Capitán Salom, and the other where calle Gabriel Alzamora meets calle Ter. The project, which aims to stop, as far as possible, domestic animals from fouling the streets, forms part of the city's “Cleaning and Improvement” plan which has been drawn up by the local council. Shortly, workmen from the municipal water and rubbish collection company, Emaya, will be installing “Doggy Parks” in streets: Mar Jónica, Joan Coll, Pardo Bazán, Son Españolet, Muslo, Marbella, Camí dels Reis, Alférez, Cap de Pinar, Jacob Sureda, Cambrills, Illa de Rodes, Capitán Ramonell, Cala Mitjana, Eucaliptus, Salar and Llar de Quatre Cantons. Pets will have access to these designated areas on a round-the-clock basis, where entry will be prohibited to children for reasons of security and hygiene. In order to assist with keeping these areas clean, the city council will set up bag dispensers so that owners can collect their pets' excrement and deposit it tidily; the council will also supply personnel to keep a watch on these areas to ensure they are being properly used. This is not the first time the council has tried to enforce dog owners to clean up after their pets, but despite the threat of fines, most owners refuse to clean up after their animals. As a result of this, Palma has the reputation of being one of the dirtiest cities in Spain.
In addition to the 20 new “doggy parks,” new parks built in the city now have a special enclosure where dogs can run free.