Volkach is a small Bavarian town whose residents love dogs – currently 422 are registered at city hall. But in this quiet community, the fouling of sidewalks and parks has reached such an unacceptable level that politicians have been spurred to action, and of course they believe they have the answer – to record the DNA of all the canine creatures in their community.

The mayor of Volkach, Peter Komell, is promoting a scheme that calls for saliva or hair to be taken from local dogs to create a DNA database. A dog warden would be employed to collect canine ordure and then check it with the database. When the computer finds a match, the offending dog owner would be sent a fine. If no corresponding match is found, a stray watch alert is issued.

Mayor Komell says he is confident his council members will approve the planned scheme even though the price tag could prove a stumbling block in the current economic climate. “Any person who has trodden in their muck because owners were too lazy or indifferent to clean up after their dog will know how distasteful and infuriating it is,” he commented. “So we will aim to end it.”

Since there is nothing in the German constitution about a canine database being enforceable, such a scheme has to be voluntary, but DNA recording is proceeding and Komell is optimistic that all owners will cooperate.

Residents of Berlin, Germany’s largest city, have demanded DNA testing for a number of years – especially in areas where fouling is particularly bad. But the city is billions of dollars over budget, so citizens are looking to Volkach to pioneer the proposed DNA register. In Berlin, allowing dogs to foul footpaths, play areas, nursery grounds, bus depots and railway stations is punishable with a fine, but in a nation noted for its discipline and conformity, there are two areas where Berliners break laws every day with seeming impunity: smoking in bars and dog-fouling public areas.

Dresden is another city that has pondered trying to solve its substantial fouling problem. This large metropolis in Eastern Germany is noted for its baroque architecture and has over 12,000 dog owners registered. Several years ago it contemplated introducing a genetic test for its dogs, but decided against proceeding, citing cost and the bureaucracy required in administration.

As Berlin and many other towns across Germany await the outcome of the Volkach experiment, however, there comes a warning that recording the chromosomes of dogs might prove to be problematic. Prof. Christolph Meissner, a scientist at the University of Würzburg, said, “It is possible that dogs of the same breed could have the same DNA profile. Such a situation might lead to the wrong creature being held accountable for fouling a public area.”

With such a possibility, some city councillors in Volkach are having second thoughts. One has proposed using a snoop system that would reward members of the public who spot and report errant dog walkers, while others favour a drop of leaflets around town reminding owners of their responsibilities. Mindful that he has opposition to overcome, Mayor Komell said, “We have to do something. At times the air here in Volkach is really awful.”

One entrepreneurial type in Berlin decided he had his own money-making solution to the city’s fouling problem. He roamed the streets cleaning up dog stools, which were then baked in a kiln and formed into briquettes for use in solid-fuel stoves. His endeavours came to an end when neighbours complained to the police about the odour that was drifting from his workshop.