The Town Hall in Rincón de la Victoria have managed to track down dog owners through the DNA of the animal's excrement, leading to them being fined.
The Councillor for Health & Consumerism, Lola Ramos, says that they have been busy in public spaces were most canine droppings have been found after receiving numerous complaints from people who live nearby.
So far, three dog owners have been identified, who will be fined somewhere between 75 and 500 euros. No doubt, the amount of excrement left or where it was left, is taken into account when deciding on the fine amount.
Mayor Francisco Salado is convinced that this process will lead to an improvement in the state of the town’s streets and pavements. He explained, “Through this kind of identification [DNA], we can also clamp down on the theft of pets and abandoned litters of pups and kittens.”
He also pointed out that Rincón de la Victoria is the first municipality within the Province of Málaga to use DNA identification and that all pet owners in the municipality have the obligation of inscribing their animal on the Censo Genético as established in the local bylaws.
(News/Noticias: Rincon de la Victoria, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia)
This is music to my ears. Let’s hope they soon move to Castill de Ferro. The pavements there are a disgrace. I’ve watched dog owners looking away from their dogs, while the dogs happily do what they have to near the swings on the beach.
Well, applause when due. This will be a money earner, until people with dogs are more responsible. I hope the councils will get a shed load of money. To aid the cleaning up in public places and pavements. Plus, gradually we will see the huge amount dwindle as people become more responsible. Mind you, does it depend on the animal being chipped? Are (something I disagree with) hunting dogs chipped?