Sant Julià de Lòria Launches Anti-Dog Urine Campaign with €400 Fines

Sant Julià de Lòria has launched a campaign to raise awareness about damage caused by dog urine on public infrastructure, alongside updated fines and stricter enforcement rules for pet owners.

The initiative, titled "Els orins passen factura" ("Urine comes at a cost"), responds to complaints about rising street dirtiness from pet urination and defecation. New signs on lampposts and benches in the urban centre detail the financial impact: lampposts cost €10,000 and last up to 25 years, but urine corrosion shortens this to 15 years and can destabilise the base after 10 years, requiring full replacement. Benches, at €400 each, drop from a 15-year lifespan to five years due to similar effects.

Last month, the Consell de Comú approved changes harmonising animal ownership and public hygiene rules. First offences—such as not diluting urine with water, failing to remove faeces immediately, lacking animal identification, or not carrying required tools—now carry €200 fines, rising to €400 for repeats. Owners must direct pets to designated pipicans, with three added in prior efforts at Trillà car park, Horts del Riu, and Borda del Jaile. From 1 September, the Inspector Cívic and Traffic Service will increase street inspections, including checks on unregistered dogs. Owners have until then to register via the Registre d’Animals de Companyia (RAC).

These measures build on previous actions from the last mandate, including the "Ell no pot recollir-la, tu sí!" ("He can't pick it up, you can!") drive, which provided kits—backpacks, bag dispensers, and foldable water bottles—to registered owners.

Commune officials emphasise shared responsibility to safeguard hygiene improvements and taxpayer funds, calling on owners to use pipicans and respect urban furniture.

In related regional developments, Ordino parish has ramped up signage and random checks in rural areas following a recent greyhound attack on a sheep in Segudet, the second in two months. New, prominent posters stress keeping dogs leashed—especially near livestock—with fines up to €3,000 for breaches. The commune highlights respect for farming activities and livestock protection to prevent further incidents and promote coexistence between pet owners, hikers, and herders.

Authorities across parishes plan accelerated regulatory updates, particularly to animal ownership laws, to toughen penalties for conflicts between dogs and livestock. In the Segudet case, farmer Sergi Riba opted against pressing charges against the dogs' owner, citing her apparent remorse and commitment to cover losses from two sheep killed, including Thursday's fatal attack. He hopes the episode spurs greater awareness and enforcement.