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Dogs banned from Italian trains to fight fleas
It is rumored that Italian trains have gone to the dawgs.Passengers on the country's extensive railway network have complained of arriving at their destination itching and scratching and plagued with insect bites. Blaming the bug problem on pets, Trenitalia has announced that from October 1, passengers will no longer be able to travel with large or medium-sized dogs defined as weighing six kilograms or more. Wonder if the authorities have looked into illegal immigrants as a possible source. Small dogs, as well as cats, rabbits and all other domestic animals, will have to travel in portable cages. Thank Gawd fish are still exempt. Fish will be exempt from the new regime, the train company pointed out, as will guide dogs for the blind. Pet owners caught in breach of the law will be fined 100 euros (£80) the amount it costs to clean and disinfect a carriage. The crackdown is based on a similar effort in Spain. "Spain is similar to Italy in many respects, starting with the climate", said Trenitalia chief executive Vincenzo Soprano. But the initiative has outraged animal welfare groups, consumer organisations and many of Italy's seven million dog owners. Of course you know, this means war. "This hygiene mania is ridiculous. What next? Will guards be checking that people's nails and ears are clean?" MP Carla Rocchi, head of an animal protection association, told the newspaper Corriere della Serra. That's a good idea, Guglielmo! Write that down and send out a memo to all station managers! "Trenitalia can't hope to eliminate ticks. If the cleaning services were decent, the problem wouldn't even arise." The ADUC consumers' association agreed. Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-09-24 |
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