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City Uses DNA To Sniff Out Dog Poop Offenders

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.

40 of 252 comments (clear)

  1. Let me be the first to say... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    What a shitty idea.

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    1. Re:Let me be the first to say... by inKubus · · Score: 4, Funny

      Like, who gives a crap?

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    2. Re:Let me be the first to say... by moriya · · Score: 4, Funny

      Actually it's a good idea...

      for me to poop on!!!

    3. Re:Let me be the first to say... by RandoX · · Score: 2, Informative

      I'll tell you why I care. Because the neighbor's dog is a freaking mutant, and eats things that *aren't food* and don't get digested. I've had to clean up everything from condoms to scraps of cloth and likely carpet fibers to a piece of metal that I suspect was an underwire from a bra.

    4. Re:Let me be the first to say... by GTRacer · · Score: 2, Informative
      *I* care, simply because sometimes, I like to walk through my yard to get the mail, or to talk to a neighbor, or when taking groceries in from the car. Collecting dog poop in my shoes or toes is not something that adds to the experience of owning a yard.

      Also, there are times when I can smell it even without standing in it. Or hows about when my mulching mower tries to mulch a big pile? It gets in the wheels and sometimes the clippings bag which I have to empty manually. Ewww!

      I don't own a dog and any dog poop in my yard is someone else's mess that never should have been left there. I don't know how many times I've watched someone walking their dog stop and wait while Fido leaves a present behind. Strays are one thing but anyone with their pet that does that needs to wake up to a mailbox full of dog poop (sorry for all the poop - work filters FTL).

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  2. Hey, I have an idea! by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    How about I don't take my dog to the vet for the swabbing?

    I'm no criminal mastermind, but it just might work!

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  3. 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?

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    2. Re:Let me guess... by jcwayne · · Score: 5, Funny

      ...they were stashing samples in freezers...

      You mean that wasn't double chunk chocolate ice cream?

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  4. No vet, no license for your dog by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    In Israel, you need to have a license for your dog from the city/municipality where you live; you get it when you take your dog to the vet for its annual rabies vaccination. All licensed dogs must be "chipped" also.

    I suppose getting caught walking an unlicensed dog will also get you a hefty fine, and your dog will be confiscated. I wouldn't think that most municipalities in Israel have a lot of budget for paying people to check on dog licensing and enforcing the "clean after your dog" laws. Maybe this is one way to try to generate a new income stream for the municipality (people already pay for licensing their dogs)?

    1. Re:No vet, no license for your dog by antifoidulus · · Score: 2, Funny

      income stream

      Best euphemism for bodily waste ever!

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

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

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    1. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by OrangeTide · · Score: 2, Funny

      Agreed, we need less government interference in my dog's rectum.

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      “Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
    2. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by Vombatus · · Score: 4, Funny
      As far as I am concerned, this is an invasion of privacy.

      Yeah, keep your nose out of my business!!!

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    3. 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!

    4. 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.

    5. Re:Privacy Concerns anyone? by Born2bwire · · Score: 2, Funny

      An abandoned, steaming and odoriferous object in plain view (and smell) on a public street has claims of privacy? Please tell me more.

    6. 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.

    7. 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... :-)

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

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

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    1. Re:Cigarette butts by naer_dinsul · · Score: 5, Funny

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

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

    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...

  7. How to abuse this system by TheModelEskimo · · Score: 3, Funny

    Save up like a MONTH of your dog's poo. Then go around spooning it into these containers. Get fido's mouth swabbed, and watch as all the alarms at the veterinarian's office go off. Oy vey! We have a winner!

  8. Re:bad karma? by largesnike · · Score: 2, Funny

    Possible sins committed in previous life

    1. invented those little sticky lables that go on fruit
    2. invented advertising
    3. invented reality tv
    4. being George Lucas (I mean he's gotta pay for Jar-Jar Binks)
    5. being any RIAA lawyer
    6. and finally (for special irony) being a fundamentalist ideologue of any stripe

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  9. 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...

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  10. 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 MagusSlurpy · · Score: 4, Informative

      No, it's actually quite cheap, and easy (I teach an undergrad general bio lab where they do DNA comparisons, and believe me, if it cost anything, the school wouldn't pay for undergrads to do it). The DNA Who's-My-Daddy labs just charge a lot, because they can (or because they get government contracts). Just like cell phone providers and text messaging fees.

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

      Actually we could use something like that in SoCal's parks. There isn't a single day when I don't see new dog turds on my usual running route. This is despite huge signs tha tell you to pick up after your dog, free plastic bag dispensers and large trash cans everywhere.
      Many dog owners are assholes, that's the only way I can see it. Tax the hell out of them and pay somebody to clean up the dog shit.

    3. 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.

    4. 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.

  11. Previous life discovered... by Tofof · · Score: 2, Funny

    I wonder what sin you had to commit in a previous life to find yourself the official dog poop examiner of Petah Tikva, Israel.

    Why, isn't it obvious? You'd have to be the sort of person who keeps posting these idle articles to the front page.

  12. don't be so negative by commodoresloat · · Score: 2, Funny

    This technology is the shit!

  13. Fact to take away: DNA testing is cheap by LonghornXtreme · · Score: 2, Interesting
    DNA testing has become so cheap that:

    1) vet's can keep DNA records of pets; and

    2) cities find it economical to enforce poop-scoop laws by DNA testing dog shit.

    Sheesh.

  14. I happen to live in Petah-Tikva by S3D · · Score: 3, Interesting

    And I can assure you that dog poop is quite a problem here. There is a lot of small children on the outside and dog poop is more immediate danger to them than occasional suicidal bomber.

    1. Re:I happen to live in Petah-Tikva by plasmacutter · · Score: 2, Funny

      And I can assure you that dog poop is quite a problem here. There is a lot of small children on the outside and dog poop is more immediate danger to them than occasional suicidal bomber.

      obviously the suicide bombers have to up their game a bit if the general populace considers dog poop to be a greater threat.

      maybe they should invent a new type of "dirty bomb".

      they may even make suicide bombing a green profession, allowing you to re-use your martyrs because there were no nails ripping them in half.

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  15. Re:American taxpayer funded? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The vast majority of American aid to Israel is military, and even that is generally "credits" that can only be spent at American companies

    Plus, when you consider what they get by way of technology exchange, unwavering loyalty and common beliefs, it's money well spent.

    When you compare that to the billions of dollars given by America to Arab states, for whom the usual return on investment is "Death to America", it's a pretty sweet deal.

    Regardless, Israeli hi-tech firms make plenty of money. The parent topic was a troll, of course, but this technology, like other Israeli innovations (such as much of the computer you are probably using) are impressive. When you consider that the chief or only export of most of their neighbouring countries is Jihad, and when you consider what Israel has achieved in spite of the sort of challenges it faces, it's a truly remarkable country.

  16. dog cr@p problems in Israel by TheLoneCabbage · · Score: 4, Informative

    I live in Modi'in (in Israel), city of the future. Apparently in the future most people refuse to pick up the poop of their horse sized dogs. This isn't a problem only in my city, this is nation wide. It's a weird cultural thing.

    In any case, we are electing a new mayor, and at a public debate we heard from all of the candidates. It was running neck and neck until one stood up and said he'd sick the gestapo on anyone who doesn't pick up after their pets. Judging by the reaction he got, dude is gonna win by a landslide!

    This method would let any city clean up it's streets without hiring more cops, which sounds great to me.

  17. Wrong dept by g0bshiTe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think rather than the take-a-bite-out-of-crime dept.
    This one should have come from the i'll-get-you-my-pretty-and-your're-little-dog-too dept

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  18. Re:How to de-fuse this system by dotancohen · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Steal poo from the poo bins. Then go around spooning poo into inappropriate places. A bunch of obedient citizens get fined unfairly and go apeshit. Stand back and watch as the whole system falls apart.

    You mean, watch the shit fly?

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  19. Obligatory ISR by CompMD · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, Dog Poop Sniffs YOU!