DNA May Solve Dog Mess Mysteries

Dog DNA testing can do a lot of cool things. It can help solve cruelty cases, reveal potential breed-based health hazards, and further debunk the validity of dog bite studies and breed specific legislation. And, of course, the tests can satisfy curiosity about your adopted dog's heritage (I know, you love him no matter what, but many adopters can't help but wonder...). Now, for all of you CSI fans, here's another possible application of DNA technology in the dog world — matching pups with their poop.

Pam Robson of Sunderland, England, was fined for picking up a different dog's dump when she was out walking her Labrador. She rightfully thought the penalty was absurd and refused to pay, so the Sunderland Council threatened Robson with court action. She said, "It felt like the worst kind of bullying," and contacted her MP and a lawyer. In the end, the city council decided not to pursue legal action.

What does this have to do with dog DNA? If Robson lived in a community like Baltimore's Scarlett Place condominums, her case might have been turned over to the crime lab.

The Baltimore condo complex is proposing mandatory DNA tests for every canine resident to determine who's to blame for rogue piles of pet waste all over the property. Steve Frans, a board member at Scarlett Place, suggested that they hire a private laboratory to help track down the culprits behind the community's messes. The idea is that every dog would have to register a swab of saliva with the condo association. The sample would be kept on file with BioPet Vet Lab, and when an unclaimed pet pile is discovered, the staff would send it in to see who's responsible.

The plan doesn't come without a cost. Dog owners would have to cover the cost of the test at $50 a pop, plus $10 a month to pay for any necessary scooping and sleuthing by the staff. If the DNA results point to your dog, you get slapped with a $500 fine.

Picking up after your dog isn't anyone's favorite part of canine companionship, but it's part of the package. Beyond the obvious unpleasantness of the situation, pet waste can spread disease. But are Big Brother tactics really the way to resolve the issue?

There's already a rift between Scarlett Place residents with pets and those without, and this proposal isn't helping the situation. Complaints range from "Would you want someone coming in swabbing your child's mouth for DNA?" to "I feel like I'm living a Seinfeld episode." Building manager Rita Shriver isn't thrilled with irresponsible pet owners, but she also isn't thrilled with the proposal. "How has it got to this point where we have to have a CSI thing going on? This is just insane."

It is insane, but this is what happens when people with dogs don't take their role as ambassadors seriously. One dog owner's bad behavior can lead to persecution of an entire canine community.

Photo credit: thelastminute