Dog owners in Bolzano must have their pets undergo a DNA test. The northern Italian province wants to combat dog litter on the streets by using dog DNA to identify the culprits. DNA testing is mandatory and costs the owner 65 euros.
The test results will be stored in a database, where police can search for the perpetrators and their accomplices. Evidence will be used to impose fines. Their prices range from 292 euros to no less than 1084 euros.
Under the law, an estimated 45,000 dogs in the province must undergo DNA testing at a veterinary clinic by the end of December 2023 before the rule is implemented this month. According to reports in the Italian press, the test was performed on only 5,000 dogs.
There is a lot of debate about this procedure. Dog owners who clean up their dog's droppings and have to pay 65 euros consider it an unnecessary expense. Animal welfare organizations believe the law will lead to administrative chaos. Questions are also raised about the fairness and effectiveness of this measure. There are many stray dogs as well as tourists who bring their dogs to the province. The feces of those animals will never be traced back.
Regional council member Arnold Schuller said the database was still “in the implementation phase” and additional vets had now been identified to help with DNA testing. “This way we make it easier for everyone to register their pets,” he told Rai News.
Schuler said the database will also be used to identify dogs that have died in traffic accidents or that have attacked other animals or people.
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