Iconic Spanish tourist seaside city slaps dog owners with bizarre £650 fine

Dog owners in one of Spain's most popular tourist cities will be slapped with hefty fines if they fail to clean up their furry friends’ urine. Residents in Fuengirola – a bustling seaside resort on the Costa del Sol – must dilute their pups’ wee with a vinegar and water solution – or risk a €750 (£650) fine.

While Fuengirola's town council has promoted this practice for years, sometimes even handing out small bottles to dog owners, is has now been made compulsory. The city's mayor, Ana Mula, said the measure will make the tourist hotspot cleaner and more hygienic. "Issuing fines is not our preferred measure, but it is necessary to make everyone aware that such a simple gesture as rinsing our pets’ urine in public is beneficial for everyone," she said, reported The Olive Press.

Although unusual in the UK, cleaning your canine friends’ urine is common practice in Spain. Fuengirola joins a range of Spanish cities where cleaning up dog urine is compulsory.

Barcelona, Alicante, Seville, Malaga and Mijas all dish out fines to dog owners who fail to comply with the rule.

The measure is part of a broader, long-term effort by the local authority to keep the town's public spaces clean, particularly during the summer months. This new rule joins several others already in place for dog owners in Spain. Faeces removal is already mandatory, while owners must also ensure their dogs are microchipped, vaccinated, and, in many cases, kept on a lead.

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Ms Mula explained that there will be television and social media campaigns to inform all residents of the new requirement.

This comes after Brits have been urged to steer clear of unlicensed 'pirate' taxis in Spain, or risk a massive fine. In its travel advice for Spain, the FCDO urges Britons to use only "official registered or licensed taxis, or reputable transport companies you recognise".

"Licensing regulations differ across Spain and in certain cities pre-booking is required," it adds. Unlicensed cabs are often referred to in the country as taxis piratas or "pirate taxis". Passengers caught using unlicensed taxi services are liable for financial penalties of up to 600 euros (£521.67 currently), the Foreign Office warns.