When in Rome, dogs and fish shall roam
October 27, 2005
Rome has banned goldfish bowls, which animal rights activists say are cruel, and has made regular dog walking mandatory, under new bylaws of the city council.
Round fishbowls were banned, as was giving away fish and other creatures as fairground prizes.
The moves came after a national law was passed to allow jail sentences for people who abandon cats or dogs.
"It's good to do whatever we can for our animals who in exchange for a little love fill our existence with their attention," said Monica Cirinna, the Rome councillor behind the bylaw.
"The civilisation of a city can also be measured by this," she told the Roman daily Il Messaggero.
The newspaper reported round bowls caused fish to go blind. No one at Rome council was available to confirm this was why they were banned. However, experts claimed round bowls provided insufficient oxygen for fish.
In July last year, parliament passed a law setting big fines and jail terms for
The new Rome bylaw required owners to regularly exercise their dogs. In April, Turin passed a law to fine pet owners if they did not walk their dogs three times a week.
Reuters
