Dog Story

 Germans often have a particular fondness for dogs, but an extreme negative view on dog-owners who allow 'Barney' to crap on the sidewalk (without cleaning it up).  

So this topic came up this week in the Pfalz region of Germany, and there is a pretty interesting discussion going on.  SWR covered the bulk of this.

Some Germans are now suggesting that besides the yearly dog tax....that maybe your 'Barney' should also give a DNA sample.  So when he craps on the street....a guy will come by....examine the crap....test it, and then come back to identify the crap to your 'Barney'.

Then, at least by the discussion....the cost of cleaning your 'Barney-poop' will come to you in a envelope, and they might asses one single poop to a certain amount of money (they avoid saying the magic number).  Right now, the dog poop fine is around 100 Euro (more or less, and depending on which town you live in).  After this DNA law goes into effect?  If you figure the cost of a DNA test, and the man-hours involved...it wouldn't surprise me if the cost went up to 250 Euro.  

Discussion state-wide?  No....right now, just one single town in the Pfalz, and the dog population is 1,700 (human population of 2,800 roughly).  

The fact that visiting guests to the town, might bring their out-of-town or out-of-state dogs along, and they poop.....but fail to match up to anyone in the database?  Well...it's best not to bring up this scenario.