Italy, Jan 19:
In a bid to curb the unwelcome aroma of dog waste plaguing Bolzano, Italy, authorities are resorting to a
novel tactic: mandatory DNA tests for all canines, according to The Guardian. The new law, effective this
month, requires owners of the estimated 45,000 dogs in the city to register their pets’ genetic profiles in a
police database.
This “poop patrol” hopes to identify the culprits behind abandoned dog droppings littering the city streets.
DNA evidence collected from abandoned waste will be matched against the database, potentially leading
to hefty fines for irresponsible owners, ranging from 292 to 1,048 Euros (approximately ₹ 26,530 to ₹
94,919).
However, the initiative faces a hurdle. Despite a December 2023 deadline, only 5,000 dogs have
undergone the mandatory swabs. Critics raise concerns about the cost to owners, the effectiveness of
the scheme in tackling stray and tourist dogs, and potential privacy issues surrounding the DNA
database.
