The idea of using a pet's DNA to discover if it was indeed the owner who did the deed of not picking up their dog's poop may be controversial, but it may just be the ticket to getting these lazy owners to shape up. If that's what it takes, then maybe finally San Diego and surrounding cities will have cleaner lawns, etc. Check out the video below followed by some thoughts from the Fox5 article:

Owners failing to pick up after their pets is not only unsightly but a health and water quality issue. The EPA lists dog waste in the same category as toxic oils and chemicals.

Now in the long-running struggle to keep canine waste off lawns, and other common areas, residential communities are turning to the same forensic science detectives use to solve homicides and major crimes: DNA evidence.

Sharpton owns PooPrints West, a Los Angeles-based dog DNA monitoring company.

The company has 40,000 dogs in its DNA registry and serves 11,000 properties nationwide. Four in San Diego and another 10 local communities are signing up for the service.

The first step is to register the DNA of all dogs in the community. A kit is sent to each dog owner with swabs. These swabs collect DNA from the dog’s cheek. If a suspect pile is found a sample is also collected and sent to the lab that matches the DNA of the doggie doo to the guilty pooch.

Pet owners who spoke to FOX 5 said the idea of dog DNA testing is unusual but if it forces lazy owners to pick up their pet’s poop, they’re on board.

Dog DNA testing has become so popular PooPrints is now testing throughout the U.S., Canada, Israel and Singapore.

What do you think about using a dog's DNA to trace owners who don't pick up after their pooch? If it's benefits a community to keep their walk areas clean (which it does), then dog parents shouldn't mind registering their pup's DNA. Read about the issue in its entirety on Fox5.