Dogs face DNA tests over street mess

[Arthurgray50@blu]

http://www.itv.com/news/london/2015-...-by-dna-tests/

I have heard some ludicrous ideas over the years, but this is the most stupid idea going.

Many councils have said that they will clamp down on people spitting, throwing chewing gum on the floor. Are they enforcing it - NOT in Hounslow where l live.

Now, they will pay someone to go around and testing dog crap for DNA, and then prosecute the dog owner.

What a waste of money, if they have money to burn, they can probably spend it on cleaning our streets properly, and getting rid of contractors who are useless.

When contractors come down my road, there is more rubbish on the street after they have been

No its one of the best ideas, its about time these owners got fined for letting their dogs mess up the streets, good for them.

[Russ]

Barking and Dagenham look set to become the first council in the UK to use the technique to identify owners, who could then face fines of up to £80.

DNA tests are quick and easy to do now. I think this is a great idea. There are few things worse all over a pavement than dog mess. It's not as if the message hasn't got out, either. There are dog poo bins all over the place now, and the sight of responsible dog owners carrying little poly bags is commonplace. There is no excuse for not cleaning up.

[MalteseFalcon]

About time, if I had my way dogs would go the same way as the dodo.

[Russ]

I know a few blind people who may object to that.

[denphone]

Personally l think its a good idea.

l think you will find that for many pets are part of the family Mark so they certainly won't go the way of the dodo.

Originally Posted by Russ

I know a few blind people who may object to that.

Presumably if they already have some sort of an exemption, they will continue to do so.

[dilli-theclaw]

Originally Posted by Chris

Presumably if they already have some sort of an exemption, they will continue to do so.

Blind people are expected to clean up after their guide dogs - it's part of the training course.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Chris

DNA tests are quick and easy to do now. I think this is a great idea. There are few things worse all over a pavement than dog mess. It's not as if the message hasn't got out, either. There are dog poo bins all over the place now, and the sight of responsible dog owners carrying little poly bags is commonplace. There is no excuse for not cleaning up.

Costs and enforcement\legality of the database would be my issues.. I'm a dog owner and always carry dump bags but what happens if for instance I visit Barking and get stopped next to a fresh pooh that my dog hasn't done. Who pays for the DNA cost? What right will they have to stop and DNA my dog?

Its a case of assumed guilty before you have committed a crime. It's why police can't arrest\fingerprint\dna test you until after they have arrested you and only arrest you with some sort of proof.

I suspect the use of DNA will be for persistent offenders, and an addition to current methods rather than a replacement. As for the cost, I can't see any reason to suspect this will be borne by anybody other than the investigating council.

[Kabaal]

Originally Posted by Chris

I suspect the use of DNA will be for regular offenders

That's better

[Stephen]

Its a great idea!

That council alone spends £2 million a year cleaning the streets of dog mess, so this should prove cheaper and eventually those cleaning costs will drop dramatically.

The article mentions that DNA could be taken at the same time aas chipping which would be a cost effective way to gether the data.

• The council is working out the best way to register the DNA of each dog in the borough
• Samples could be taken at the same time dogs are microchipped, which becomes a legal requirement from April 2016
• Collecting DNA involves a cheek swab which is taken from the dog and sent to a laboratory
• The dog's profile is then added to a DNA registry

If an owner fails to pick up the mess after their dog, a quick test will be taken from the offending faeces which can be traced back to a registered dog with 99.9 per cent accuracy, according to the council.

[Gary L]

Originally Posted by dilli-theclaw

Blind people are expected to clean up after their guide dogs - it's part of the training course.

What happens when they accidently tread in it whilst they're looking for it?

Chavs don't like picking up their dogs mess. it's not cool.
same as walking their grannies poodle.

[ianch99]

Are the owners of these dogs that are fouling the streets likely to chip/register them? There may be a sizeable minority that will avoid chipping for this reason .. Most responsible dog owners are very concious of the need to clean up after their pets.