Petach Tikva taking CSI to the dogs

September 16, 2008 - 5:22 PM by Harry

No Dog Poop!I’m a suburban dog owner. I walk my dog thrice a day. My dog poops in the street, I clean it up. Unfortunately 90 percent of the dog owners in my neighborhood do not. The Modiin municipality tried to combat this by placing poop bag stations in the parks, but they haven’t been refilled in over a year. Epic fail.

How to eliminate dog poop on the streets? For one, get dog runs. My city has over 3500 dogs and twenty percent of my city is dedicated to park space yet there is not one park where dogs can run free and socialize. Dog runs are great for dogs and people. The dogs get good exercise and get used to other people. Dog runs make dogs friendlier. People will clean up their poop in dog parks – the peer pressure will be just too great. On a side point they are also great for residents, I’ve met some really nice people on my dog walks. Fine people – a lot – who are caught not cleaning up after their dogs. And refill those damn baggy receptacles.

These are all true and tested ideas but Petach Tikva has started a unique program like no other to combat dog poop on their streets – and it just might work.

Reuters:

An Israeli city is using DNA analysis of dog droppings to reward and punish pet owners.

Under a six-month trial program launched this week, the city of Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, is asking dog owners to take their animal to a municipal veterinarian, who then swabs its mouth and collects DNA.

The city will use the DNA database it is building to match feces to a registered dog and identify its owner.

Owners who scoop up their dogs’ droppings and place them in specially marked bins on Petah Tikva’s streets will be eligible for rewards of pet food coupons and dog toys.

But droppings found underfoot in the street and matched through the DNA database to a registered pet could earn its owner a municipal fine.

A fantastic and innovative idea (albeit potentially expensive) that will certainly have an impact but it will start with a six month trial and not be mandatory for all dog owners. The information gained from the dog DNA can be useful information for scientific research as well.

Tags: , , • Category: Life 

Comments

2 Comments on Petach Tikva taking CSI to the dogs

  1. David-Joe on Wed, Sep 17th 2008 1:16 AM

    2. What a bunch of filthy people. As an Israeli I am not surprised. The Israeli attitude that is always viewed as so cute is really not.

  2. Year of ideas | Israelity on Thu, Dec 18th 2008 8:57 AM

    3. [...] which dogs are pooping on the streets and which owners are to blame. Harry wrote all about it here on Israelity, out-pooping.. er, out-scooping the Times by three [...]

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