The province is creating the database for the almost 45,000 dogs.
In an effort to curb the unwanted smell of dog poop plaguing Bolzano, Italy, authorities are resorting to a new tactic: mandatory DNA testing for all dogs, according to The guard. The new law, which takes effect this month, requires owners of the city's estimated 45,000 dogs to register the genetic profiles of their pets in a police database.
This 'poop patrol' hopes to identify the perpetrators behind abandoned dog poop littering the city streets. DNA evidence collected from abandoned waste will be checked against the database, potentially leading to hefty fines for irresponsible owners, ranging from 292 to 1,048 euros (approximately Rs 26,530 to Rs 94,919).
However, the initiative has hit a hurdle. Despite a December 2023 deadline, only 5,000 dogs have undergone the mandatory swab tests. Critics raise concerns about the costs to owners, the effectiveness of the scheme in tackling stray and tourist dogs, and potential privacy issues surrounding the DNA database.
The guard reported that the measure is controversial, especially among dog owners who diligently clean up their pet's poop and who are now obliged to pay 65 euros for the test.
Moreover, there are questions about how this complex and costly initiative will be managed, especially if the perpetrators are vagrants or owned by tourists.
“It's easier said than done,” Madeleine Rohrer of the local Greens told the Italian-language daily. Il Giornale. “It will just be an additional cost for the municipality and for the police, who have a lot more to do.”
Provincial councilor Arnold Schuler said the database was still “in the implementation phase” and additional veterinarians had been identified to help conduct the DNA testing. “In this way we make it easier for everyone to register their pet,” he says.
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