1,104 dog owners in French town give pet DNA so mess can be traced

More than 1,100 dog owners have agreed to give DNA samples of their pets as part of a crackdown on mess left on pavements in their town.

Dogs walked in a designated ‘canine DNA zone’ in Béziers, Hérault, must be registered on a database.

If they foul its pavements, any mess left can be analysed, the pet traced and the owner fined €122.

Read more: Dogs face DNA test as French town bids to trace street mess culprits

Cotton swab in dog’s mouth

The authorities organised free DNA sampling sessions, carried out by a cotton swab in the mouth, in September, and 1,104 people signed up.

The mairie said: “The vast majority of people want a pretty, clean city.”

Those who could not attend, or did not want to, must pay for the DNA test themselves.

Municipal police officers have now begun checking the area for unregistered dogs, whose owners could face a fine of €38.

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