Palma sets up urban dog trining school

Palma City Council, determined not to give up its drive to educate both dog owners and their pets, yesterday unveiled a new dog obedience school. The council, which has been fighting an on going battle for the past two years to try and encourage dog owners to take more responsibility for their pet's toiletry behaviour, yesterday launched a new campaign called “the responsibility is yours”. The centrepiece is the new dog school. The campaign starts next week, which is when the new Urban Dog School opens in the Poligono Levante industrial estate in Palma. Courses will last eight weeks and involve both owners and their four legged friends. While pets are put through obedience, control and “sociability” classes, their owners will learn about their rights as a dog owner, the municipal laws and subsequent penalties if broken and also participate in a series of theory sessions. Palma councillor for Health, Maria Crespo, said yesterday that the main thrust of the lessons for dog owners is to help them appreciate the need for them to clear up after their pet and get used to complying with all the rules and regulations which govern taking dogs out on to the street.