Is it time to start implementing pet DNA testing at the municipal level?

Bolzano, Italy's new city-wide pet waste solution includes testing more than 45,000 dogs to identify pet waste and hold owners accountable.

Dog ownership is growing every day in America. 

It's estimated that more than 65 million homes include at least one dog, according to Forbes Advisor. 

While we love our four-legged friends, with more dogs, comes more dog waste. As pet waste piles up, it can drive down property values, harm the environment, and spread diseases. 

In Bolzano, Italy, an ambitious new city-wide solution includes testing more than 45,000 dogs to curb pet waste and hold owners accountable. 

The new law – similar to the biotechnology solution seen in multifamily housing properties here in the United States – will require pet owners to submit their dog’s DNA swab to be entered into a municipality-wide database. Police will use those genetic matches in their search for the culprit, and fine the owner accordingly. 

The town of Bolzano isn’t alone. More and more, community leaders are fed up with abandoned dog waste. 

Last summer, the southern French town of Béziers also implemented a city-wide DNA tactic to cut down on abandoned pet waste through the streets. This two-year trial requires owners to submit DNA through their veterinarian and carry their pet’s “genetic passport.” If the DNA matches, the owner will face a bill for street clean up (approximately $130.) 

“We did a count and we pick up more than 1,000 messes a month, sometimes a lot more, just in the town centre,” Béziers mayor Robert Ménard told reporters. “It just cannot go on.” 

Bird's eye view of Bolzano, Italy.

Cities worldwide – from Madrid to London – have enlisted DNA testing solutions to curb their pet waste problems, but the benefits go beyond just identifying irresponsible owners. A pet genetics database implemented on a large scale can also aid in identifying lost, stolen, and injured animals, or track instances of animal aggression. 

While Bolzano, Béziers, and other cities have grabbed headlines for leaning on science to combat dog waste, the thousands of communities who already use PooPrints know just how effective DNA testing is for pet waste management. 

BioPet Labratories has been combatting the pet waste problem since 2008, with more than 8,000 communities using PooPrints to keep their communities clean. 

The success of PooPrints in multifamily housing communities in the United States underlines its efficacy in addressing pet waste concerns – and it’s time municipalities join in. 

By extending this proven solution to municipalities, U.S. cities can effectively tackle the pervasive issue of abandoned dog waste.

By: J Retinger, CEO at BioPet Laboratories