Duc’s Place, a Vietnamese restaurant in the US state of Connecticut, put up a sign reading: “Attn: dog owners. This is a pay-per-pee flower pot. (Pay inside or leave your address and we’ll kindly return the favor.)”

However, the sign was found to break city by-laws on “being a public nuisance”, local newspaper the New Haven Independent reports.

Restaurant owner Duc Nguyen, who said the sign was just a bit of fun, has said he plans to appeal the fine.