We’ve all been there: strolling through the park on a gorgeous Autumnal walk or rushing to meet our pals, when we step into a little surprise that has the power to ruin our day. Dog mess on pavements and in parks is one of those small, but universally frustrating problems that can turn a lovely outing into an embarrassing escapade.
But a new initiative in Catalunya, Spain, could change all that. Police in the area are testing the DNA of dog poo left on the streets to match them to the owners, and hand out fines of up to €500. The idea is simple: if owners know they can be identified, they’ll think twice before leaving a mess behind.
With over 13.5 million dogs in the UK and 36% of households owning at least one dog, according to recent figures, could something like this change the mess problem that is so common in big cities like London?
Would you support Dog poo DNA testing?
Catalunya isn’t the first place to use science to crack down on the poo problem, with cities such as Bolzano in Italy implementing this strategy last year, and even some London boroughs have given it a try, as far back as 2016. Believe it or not, the scheme was first tried in London in, wait for it, Barking, and no, I am not making that up!
As councils continue searching for effective ways to keep streets clean and encourage responsible pet ownership, DNA testing could become part of a broader push toward accountability.
The pilot scheme was said to have reduced dog mess in its parks by 50%, but ultimately the process was seen as unenforceable and wasn’t continued. But with technology advancing and dog ownership on the rise, could it be time to try again with this new technology?
