Tarragona identifies dog owners through DNA analysis of waste
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The Tarragona City Council in Spain began analyzing dog feces using DNA to identify animals and fine their owners.
In February, the council started a genetic census of dogs, collecting samples from approximately 2,500 animals, about 25% of the city’s dog population. They compare DNA from the feces to the census database, issuing a 100 euro fine to owners of dogs whose waste matches a registered profile.
If a match isn’t found, the city uses the sample to create a “heat map” showing areas with the most dog waste, and to identify potential patterns suggesting the same unregistered dog is repeatedly leaving waste. A team from the company ADN Canino and the Tarragona Urban Guard collects the samples using a swab, documenting the location and time of collection with photographs and records.
The collected samples undergo PCR and capillary electrophoresis to sequence the DNA in a laboratory, with analysis typically taking around 21 days. City officials hope this measure will improve public health and reduce uncivil behavior. Dog owners are required to register their animals’ DNA, and those who do not may face fines of up to 1,500 euros.
