War on waste... using a DNA test on your dog

A COUNCIL is taking the fight against dog fouling to a new level, as it prepares to introduce DNA testing of canine waste.

Leitrim County Council is the first local authority in the country to implement the measure, in a bid to deter people from not cleaning up after their dog, and to catch those who don’t.

Under the system, dog owners in areas that have high levels of fouling will be asked to allow saliva samples to be taken from their pets.

The local animal warden will then take samples of dog waste in these areas, and using DNA, will match the samples in a bid to identify offenders.

Any owner who refuses to provide a saliva sample will be issued with a statutory notice under the Animal Health & Welfare Act which compels them to allow a saliva sample to be taken from their dog.

Any owners found through this system to not have cleaned up after their dog will not be fined for a first offence. However, subsequent offences will lead to a fine of €150, or a maximum fine of up to €3,000 if convicted in the District Court.

The new system will be trialled for one year, although its start date has yet to be confirmed, according to officials.

‘Difficult to catch them in the act’

County veterinary officer James Madden said the overall aim is that dog shelters and other local authorities will follow suit, which would lead to a national database of dogs’ DNA.

‘If you take your dog out and don’t pick up after your dog and the warden takes a sample, you can be caught… It’s difficult to catch people in the act,’ he told the Irish Daily Mail.

Dog waste poses health risks as it can contain bacteria such as E. coli and parasites such as round worm, the larvae of which can cause loss of vision. It has been estimated that a single gram of dog waste can contain 23million faecal coliform bacteria, which are known to cause cramps, diarrhoea, intestinal illnesses and serious kidney disorders in humans.

A spokesman for Leitrim County Council stressed that this is solely a human problem and not a dog one.

‘Please think of the vulnerable members of your community such as wheelchair users, visually impaired people, babies and toddlers, those who use buggies and prams, as well as people playing sports,’ he said.

He added: ‘Whether you own a dog or not, dog waste in public spaces affects everyone – so please, bag it, bin it.’