Wow. Texas just might be nuttier than Fla after all.

[dixiegrrrrl]

Apartments demand doggie DNA to find pooper scooper offenders

Barcus and his family have a Yorkie named Brooklyn. They recently received a letter explaining a new program now being implemented at his complex, and at dozens of complexes across Dallas.

"I have several major clients in the Metroplex making this part of their mandated process," explained Cedric Moses, CEO of
a company called PooPrints, which is responsible for the program. "And I'm hearing from new clients each day.
I'm getting into military housing, student housing, senior assisted living housing as well."
Brooklyn and other dogs must surrender a DNA sample. That DNA is kept on file at a lab out of state.
If an apartment worker finds doggie waste, they pick it up and send it off.

Moses' company determines which dog was responsible, and the owner faces a fine.
"It's accurate. It's 99.9 percent accurate," he said. "And it's just a swab to get the DNA. We don't want to clone Fido. Trust me on this. We do not want to clone your pet. We just want you to be responsible."

If the resident refuses to pay — or refuses to submit the dog's DNA — they risk termination of their lease, according to the letter.

http://www.wfaa.com/home/Apartments-demanding-doggie-DNA-to-track-down-pooper-scooper-offenders-197705241.html

Be interesting to see the lawsuits on this one.
Chain of custody will be a big issue.

[niyad]

1. oh my word, the USPS is going to LOVE this:

If an apartment worker finds doggie waste, they pick it up and send it off.

how in the heck is this going to work? what sort of sealed, leak-proof container will be required, and who is going to pay for it? and, just think, in cutting sat service--can you just see--something arrives in the town in friday night's delivery--no sat., no sun--and monday just happens to be a holiday. a sample of poop sitting in the PO for nearly four days. this should be fun. could bring a whole new meaning to "going postal"

[yellowcanine]

8. People send poop through the mail all the time. It is no big deal.

It doesn't take very much. A smear on a card is used to test for blood as part of colon cancer screening. That is all it would take for DNA testing. And larger amounts can be sent in sealed vials. No big deal and done all of the time for parasite testing.

[niyad]

10. I know, but it just struck me funny "scoop it up and mail it off"

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. I see a host if of issues that could be fought about in court

Everything from proving a sample was collected at a certain spot to the age of the sample when collected.

Cheers!

[marmar]

3. Bread and circuses.

Roma è in fiamme.

[pinboy3niner]

4. This 'CSI: Dallas' may not attain the popularity of the other shows

[Tikki]

5. Maybe they will do an episode about a mass murderer who draws pictures of dogs.

Tikki

[pinboy3niner]

6. I'm picturing chalk outlines around piles of dog poop

And numbered evidence markers all over the befouled lawn. CBS execs smell another hit!

[dixiegrrrrl]

14. God..what a visual that is!!!

[monmouth3]

7. Florida is famous for so little, let us be the nuttiest..LOL..n/t

[russspeakeasy]

11. + 1.............

[yellowcanine]

9. I have no problem with this. Not cleaning up after the dog is disgusting and uncivilized.

I have seen dog poop on public sidewalks in our neighborhood. This is a public health issue. If that is what it takes to get people to clean up after their dog, so be it. You do not have a Constitutional right to allow your dog to poop on the sidewalk. It will not be a criminal case so chain of custody is not required. A photo of the location + the DNA analysis will be sufficient and I suspect the pet owner will have to agree to that in the lease as a condition for keeping the pet in the apartment. So any lawsuits over it will rightfully get thrown out of court. An apartment lease is a binding contract. You don't get to dispute what you have agreed to after the fact.

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. First they came for the dogs.......then the cats...

[lpbk2713]

12. Guilty until proven innocent at the owners' expense?

Seems like this could be challenged quite easily.

[yellowcanine]

16. Not a criminal issue. It is contract law.

This is a condition of the lease agreement. If you sign the lease you are agreeing to it. If you don't like it, don't sign the lease agreement and live somewhere else. And no, it could not be challenged easily. It is actually quite difficult to challenge the terms of a lease after the fact.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I am so damn glad out "kids" have feathers

And do not go outside