Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

City Uses DNA To Sniff Out Dog Poop Offenders

Posted by samzenpus on from the take-a-bite-out-of-crime dept.

An Israeli city is using DNA analysis of dog droppings to reward pet owners who clean up after their pets and punish those who don't. A six-month trial program launched this week, in the city of Petah Tikva, to tackle the dog mess problem in a high tech way. The program asks dog owners to take their pets to a veterinarian, who then swabs its mouth and collects DNA. The city will use the DNA database it is building to match droppings to a dog and identify its owner. Owners who scoop up their dogs' droppings and place them in specially marked bins will be eligible for rewards of pet food coupons and dog toys. Those who leave the poo on the street face fines. I wonder what sin you had to commit in a previous life to find yourself the official dog poop examiner of Petah Tikva, Israel.

15 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Let me guess... by Korey+Kaczor · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Just how many coupons do you think they honestly will give out? They'd probably just only check the DNA samples found on the ground because that generates revenue; they're honestly not going to use a costly procedure just to reward citizens. Actually, how much does DNA analysis of dog droppings cost? I'm skeptical that this will be done very often, as I believe DNA testing isn't really that cheap.

    1. Re:Let me guess... by Qubit · · Score: 4, Insightful

      When I was working on a grizzly bear census about a decade ago (it wasn't as dangerous as it sounds...), we collected tufts of hair from rub trees and scat.

      I think that doing the DNA workup on a hair sample was a bit more than the scat, but that both of them were at least $5, maybe $10 each. The census didn't have enough money to do it all up front, so they were stashing samples in freezers while they tried to get more grant money.

      Prices may have gone done since then, but I'd guess that doing a sample on each dog crap is going to take a lot of time and money. And besides, don't they imagine that people are going to put the dog crap from their yard into the boxes as well? I mean, if you get a toy or something each time, aren't people going to load the boxes up?

      --

      coding is life /* the rest is */
  2. Let me guess... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    So only outlaws will refuse to have their dogs' DNA recorded in their database?

  3. Privacy Concerns anyone? by stretch0611 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As far as I am concerned, this is an invasion of privacy.

    --
    Looking for a job?
    Want your resume written professionally?
    DON'T USE TUNAREZ!!!
    1. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by supernova_hq · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If you're so worried about your privacy, then don't go to the vet's and get the swab done. Better yet, DON'T LEAVE YOUR DOG'S SHIT LAYING AROUND!

    2. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by demiurge11 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As far as I am concerned, this is an invasion of privacy.

      Do *you* like stepping on dog crap? I certainly don't. I think using doggy DNA testing to catch bad neighbors that let their dogs poop all over the place is a public service. Furthermore, dogs don't have a right to privacy. In general, municipalities already match owner to dog via licenses, so there is no additional loss of privacy here.

    3. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by Seraphim1982 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It would seem to me someone who was worried about their privacy being violated by dog shit wouldn't have left said dog shit laying around in public.

    4. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by Urkki · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No it's not. If you leave your dog's poop on a public place, it's free game for any DNA analysis or whatever.

      You might argue that owning a dog is a matter of privacy and should not require a permit or anything (with which I disagree with, and will elaborate if you want). But if you come to me claiming that a pile of shit left on a public place is your private property, I'll ask if you're insane... :-)

  4. Cigarette butts by spyder-implee · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They should do this with people who smoke and drop their cigarette butts on the ground.

    --
    Take what ye can. Give nothing back!
    1. Re:Cigarette butts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      No just use the existing criminal DNA database.

    2. Re:Cigarette butts by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Send them to the vet to get a DNA swab so they'll be eligible for coupons on dog food and doggie toys?

      no but a promise of free cigarettes might do the trick...

  5. Re:American taxpayer funded? by mikeage · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Not really. The vast majority of American aid to Israel is military, and even that is generally "credits" that can only be spent at American companies, not actual cash for Israeli R&D.

    OTOH, if they start using the standard military issue M16A1 (from the Nixon era) to shoot the offending dogs (or owners...), then US taxpayers may be paying...

    --
    -- Is "Sig" copyrighted by www.sig.com?
  6. You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, part 85984374 by Duncan+Blackthorne · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Having solved all other problems within their country, Israel turns it's attention and taxpayer dollars towards the onerous problem of DOG SHIT.

    As I said, you've got to be kidding me. Isn't DNA analysis still kind of expensive?

    1. Re:You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, part 85984374 by winterice · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Having solved all other problems within their country, Israel turns it's attention and taxpayer dollars towards the onerous problem of DOG SHIT.

      As I said, you've got to be kidding me.

      Well, there's the government who's job is to handle things like war and peace, intercity roads, and fiscal policy. And there's the municipality who's job is to make sure that you have nice parks and that you don't step in dog poo. This is how a country operates.

    2. Re:You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, part 85984374 by Begemot · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Can I guess - you have never been to Israel, have you?

      1. It's not Israel the country, but a single rather small city within Israel, with their own INDEPENDENT budget
      2. As someone already responded, DNA tests are quite cheap, especially in Israel
      3. It's just so typically arrogant to assume that you understand better than a the people who decided to do it, a bit of credit man...
      4. In Israel we use shekels, not dollars (see #3)

      Cheers,
      Anton.