(AP Photo)
Twenty apartment properties across the country have already started the dog poo DNA Program. How it works is that residents must according to apartment rules submit a DNA sample from their dog to be kept on file with the DNA company. If the property manager finds poo on the ground they then scoop up a little bit put it in a test tube with some special solution and mail it off to DNA testing facility. The DNA testing facility then tests the poo and compares it with the DNA profiles from the particular building.
DNA testing over left behind dog poo which means instead of just having the lawn crew clean up the left behind poo or one of the maintenance people who are already on salary spending 15 minutes a day to check and clean any poo. These apartment complexes instead are going to pick up the poo so they can get a sample of it and send it away at a per sample cost to have it tested. I am going to be honest if I was the owner of the apartment complex I would fire the managers making these decisions. Here’s why they are spending more time and energy and money whining about a problem then doing anything to change it. Installing a poo bag station at the door to the building(s) and maybe one out in the field if there is one would do so much more to curb the problem. Another huge help to curb the problem is having enough trash cans or poo cans so that people don’t need to hold poo until they get to the single garbage can or wait until they get inside and can throw it down the trash chute. So instead of making a positive change for the community these apartment managers want to make these places into police states or something. They are still going to have to scoop the poop themselves in order to get the sample to test, cost the complex and all the residents money only to find out it was a Labrador who left the mess behind and there are 10 Labradors in the complex 3 of whom happen to be from the same parents? Then what? The managers who are using this service think it is “cool” and brag worthy that they are.
I have lived in apartments as well as in areas where you could get into trouble for not picking up after your dog. It happens that you are rushing out the door and just honestly forget the poo bags. Its not malicious you thought you had some in your pocket or all of a sudden you notice the signs your dog has an upset stomach so you rush outside and realize you didn’t bring a bag. Your choice is to try and make it outside before your dog is sick or go back for the bag and have your dog get sick all over the floor. Of course if there is someone else outside with bags you beg to have one but that is not always possible. I have even gone back to try and find poo with no luck. I don’t know if I wasn’t looking in the right place or someone realized what happened and cleaned it up. If however there are poo bag stations there is no problem if you forget your bag just pull a few off the roll as your dog finds the perfect spot to potty.
I personally would not move into a complex that uses DNA testing for poo they might allow dogs but they aren’t dog friendly.
Unfortunately, we are living through an era of people believing that making constructive changes to allow people to more easily do what’s socially responsible is “coddling”, and that only punitive measures show A Sense of Standards.
I certainly wouldn’t label them as dog friendly.
That is interesting and kind of funny. Why can’t people just be responsible for their own animals, so this does not have to be done.
Oops, I commented before reading the whole thing. I don’t have a dog. I guess it can be tough to always look out for poo. That’s probably why I don’t have a dog – too lazy.