Reuters is reporting that the Italian government declared a state of emergency at the Pompeii archaeological site on Friday, citing poor upkeep, lack of investment, mismanagement, liter, looting, bogus tour guides, illegal parking attendants and stray dogs plaguing visitors.

Painful.

J. J. Deiss in his book "Herculaneum Italy's Buried Treasure" says that for decades the admissions fees from Pompeii were sent to Rome and virtually none of the money was sent back for upkeep.
Here is a quote from that book:
"... much less to care for them {the ruins} seems unlikely unless the Italian Republic changes its attitude towards these projects {Pompeii and Herculaneum}. The level of indifference seems incomprehensible to outside observers... the existance of a ravenous bureaucracy, a bloated military, or the maladministration or misappropiation of national funds-real problems of the Italian government as constituted...Candidly stated the situation is a disgrace-and difficult to believe in a country so uncommonly conscious of time in the Millenia." p 205.

quote:

stray dogs plaguing visitors

The dogs all looked well fed
Pompeii dogs
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=36448&cat=4126
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=36529&cat=4126
http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=31010&cat=3980

They must make out OK on the garbage from Pompeii. What they are is starved for is human attention. They are obviously abandoned pets and nothing like feral or wild dogs at all. The stray dog problem seems to exist all over Italy (except for Capri). The ruins are just a place where they can congregate and get lots of food from the garbage.