City uses DNA to fight dog poop

[buckthesystem]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMol...G37942520080916

City uses DNA to fight dog poop

By Avida Landau

PETAH TIKVA, Israel (Reuters) - An Israeli city is using DNA analysis of dog droppings to reward and punish pet owners.

Under a six-month trial programme launched this week, the city of Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, is asking dog owners to take their animal to a municipal veterinarian, who then swabs its mouth and collects DNA.

The city will use the DNA database it is building to match faeces to a registered dog and identify its owner.

Owners who scoop up their dogs' droppings and place them in specially marked bins on Petah Tikva's streets will be eligible for rewards of pet food coupons and dog toys.

But droppings found underfoot in the street and matched through the DNA database to a registered pet could earn its owner a municipal fine.

"My goal is to get the residents involved, and tell them that together, we can make our environment clean," said Tika Bar-On, the city's chief veterinarian who came up with the idea for the DNA experiment.

Bar-On said the DNA database could also help veterinarians research genetic diseases in dogs, investigate canine pedigree and identify stray animals, replacing the need for electronic chip identification.

"The sky is the limit on how far we can take this," she said.

So far, Bar-On said, residents have "reacted positively to the programme and are cooperating because they want their neighbourhood to be clean".

She said Petah Tikva would consider making it mandatory for pet owners to provide DNA samples from their dogs if the trial programme is successful.

(Editing by Robert Hart) .

[nebula]

Sorry - but I thought this was

[Guest LadyC]

this would be an incredible waste of taxpayer dollars. it would be much less expensive and just as effective to set up a neighborhood watch or a tip-line people could call in and report on.

[tah]

Wow, now that sounds like a job everyone will be clamoring over to get..

[LadyRaven]

I am very happy that Tel Aviv has the resources to waste on this project, I wish we did. I would not advocate using the funds that way, but if we had resources to waste the state wouldn't be looking at cuts all over the place.

[buckthesystem]

This could spawn a whole new branch of science: Those who graduate in this field could call themselves "Canine Poopologists".

An exciting career, Neb?

[nebula]

Well, poop is the way dogs identify each other....

[buckthesystem]

Well, poop is the way dogs identify each other....

You mean to say dogs discovered the uniqueness of DNA and began analysing each others poop long before we did?

Just imagine, say, at the DMV office instead of providing identification, people could just sniff each others' butts, if only we were as sophisticated as dogs.

[nebula]

Wouldn't that be funny!