Sofia has joined the national "Scan the Paw" campaign for responsible pet ownership, the city council says. The first "Scan the Paw Street" is Asen Yordanov Street in the Triaditsa district, where signs with QR codes have gone up.

Sofia mayor Vasil Terziev and Triaditsa mayor Dimitar Bozhilov turned out for the event. They planted trees and put up the signs, while volunteers cleaned and tidied the area.

The signs also list the fines set by the Sofia Inspectorate. An owner who does not clean up after a pet pays 50 euros. The same fine applies if a dog is walked without cause or somewhere walking dogs is banned.

Inspectors carried out more than 620 checks on dog owners in just the first four months of 2026, according to figures cited by BTA. Checks in parks, gardens and courtyards are done together with municipal police.

Dispensers with biodegradable bags are due to go up on the street too.

"Every pet owner has a part to play in making Sofia better. When you know what you can do, it's much easier to help," Terziev said. He said the council wants to back groups that are changing how people in Sofia think about the issue. Sometimes helping means reporting a problem, he said, sometimes it means explaining things to someone who doesn't know what to do — and sometimes it's enough simply not to look away from a problem.

The campaign is run by the Stray Angels association. It targets both pet owners and the wider public, aiming to inform and educate, with a focus on informed choices, prevention and responsible treatment of animals. Stray Angels is running the "Scan the Paw Street" initiative in Sofia together with "I Want It Clean".

Sofia council has promised to back further such initiatives on responsibility toward animals and the urban environment.