French town imposes €200 fine for dog droppings

Mayor of Brive-la-Gaillarde, Frédérique Soulier, this week raised the fine for the act from €68 to €200 - the second rise this year after an increase from €35 to €68 in January.

The purpose of the fine is to “create a dissuasive effect” and encourage people to pick up their pets’ deposits, as well as to pay for the cost of cleaning the streets.

According to the mayor, the commune currently picks up 30 tonnes of dog mess per year.

Prevention and cleaning are said to cost €100,000 annually, including the distribution of special plastic bags to owners, as well as the picking up of mess, cleaning, and burning of remnants.

To date, 20 tickets for the new high-level fine have already been issued.