A dog DNA test will be able to trace abandoned poop to pet owners, in an effort by an Italian city's government to dish out more fines.
Almost 40,000 dogs living in Bolzano will be registered in a mandatory new database set up specifically to track which dog made a mess on the streets, veterinary department director Paolo Zambotto said, according to Sky News.
Once the system is in place, dog poop found around the city will be genetically tested and matched to a dog. If the owner is found guilty, officials will be able to fine the person the equivalent of around $54 to $545.
The owners themselves have to pay for these DNA tests, which cost around $70. They are blood tests that can be done in vet clinics or dog shelters.
A fine could also be imposed on any owners who do not provide the DNA for their dog. This is because the system will become compulsory by late March.
"Bolzano receives a few hundred complaints a year from citizens about improper management of public land. More than half are for dogs," Zambotto told Sky News. "Law enforcement could only catch three or four of them because they have to go there and set up some kind of stakeout."
It is against the law in many countries to not pick up after your dog when it does its business on the street.
The laws are not only in place to prevent messy streets. They're also for human safety. Dog feces can contain microorganisms that are very dangerous to humans, including E. coli, salmonella and giardia. The feces can also contain parasites.
Through contact with dog poop, humans can also contract infections that are resistant to antibiotics, making them hard to treat. It is not clear whether Bolzano's system will be adopted in other Italian cities, but some areas have expressed interest.
Some responsible dog owners are unhappy with the rule, saying it is unfair for them to have to pay the fee to get their dog registered on the database, Los Angeles TV station KTLA reported.
The fines will not be imposed on tourists, and many owners say it is unfair that they will face no punishment for leaving dog poo on the street. There are also concerns that much of the mess made on the streets is the result of stray dogs without owners.
Although the main purpose of the database is to identify owners who are not picking up after their dogs, it will also allow authorities to distinguish which dogs have attacked animals or people, KTLA reported.
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