From 17 September, according to a ruling by the high court (Corte di Cassazione), it is obligatory to keep all dogs which are more than eight months old and stand more than 30cms high at the shoulder-blades on a leash when in all public places, which covers all but the very smallest of dogs. There are no exceptions to this ruling.

Given that the parallel obligation for those types of dog which are considered potentially dangerous to wear muzzles is widely ignored with apparent impunity, will this sentence in fact mean that dogs will no longer be seen to play together in public parks?