This Spanish Town Is Using Doggie DNA to Find Poop Offenders

Dog owners in a Spanish municipality who don’t clean up after their animal may be traced through the DNA in their pet’s feces, to try and keep the roads clear of unsightly dog mess.

A statement on the City of Mislata’s council website explains that dog owners must enrol their pet in a mandatory canine registry by taking them to a veterinary center to give a quick, free blood sample, before Dec. 31 this year.

Then, if their dog leaves a mess on the pavement that their owner fails to clean up, street cleaners can collect a sample of the feces and take it to a laboratory, to be analyzed. Thanks to the council’s new DNA analysis system, the dog will then be identified and linked to its owner, who will be contacted and given a fine of up to €200 ($220)

“Remember to always carry a plastic or paper bag when you go out for a walk with your dog,” the council’s statement concludes.

This is not the first instance of DNA dog poop testing. There’s even a doggie DNA lab in Knoxville, Tenn., called Poo Prints, which helps condo and apartment managers identify the dogs who leave a mess on premises across 30 states.