Cambodian capital plans penalty for pet poop in parks

Beginning on Tuesday, dog owners who let their pooches relieve themselves in Phnom Penh's most popular parks will be discouraged by signs, with fines to follow for those who fail to heed the warnings, local newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Sum Samuth, chief of the municipal parks bureau, said that he would erect a total of 22 signs in Hun Sen Park, Wat Botum park and the park in front of the Royal Palace, as well as on the riverside promenade.

"I am going to put up the signs banning dog poop in the parks. We just finished creating the dog poop signs," he was quoted as saying by the Cambodia Daily, adding that 11 of the signs would be planted at Hun Sen Park Tuesday.

The signs, which feature an image of a dog and a written warning, will be installed to "educate" residents, but repeat offenders could face fines, he said.

"The park guards will educate people who bring their pets to the parks before fining those who do not respect the signs," he said. Endit