Dog owners in Vienna are being encouraged to carry water bottles on their walks as part of a campaign to protect the Austrian capital’s trees. The initiative asks residents to dilute pet urine with water and clean up after their dogs.
Other cities have also explored ways to protect public spaces from dog urine. The initiative focuses on protecting local greenery, including around 250 trees planted over the past decade to help tackle the effects of the climate crisis, according to The Guardian . Because the species is particularly sensitive to urine, the city has also stopped planting black locust trees in some areas.
The campaign, called Schönes Gassi, meaning “nice dog walk”, was launched in Neubau, a densely populated district known for its cafes and art galleries. Dog trainer Conny Sporrer said the campaign could help address concerns about animal waste without resorting to stricter restrictions on pets. In Berlin, authorities in the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district began installing designated “pee stones” in spring to encourage dogs to urinate on them instead of trees.
