A housing manager in Winter Park is considering DNA testing dog feces to encourage owners to clean up after their dogs.  John Crone e-mailed the message to numerous renters in the town recently.  While this would be an expensive means to an "end," just as shocking would be tenants having to provide a DNA sample from their dog whenever they sign a new lease.

Spencer McKee from the website Out There Colorado gives one valid reason why it's so important not to leave your dog's droppings out & about:

...pet scat can add excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the soil, which can lead to unstable conditions and unnatural growth.

I would add that it also attracts wild predator animals, much like leaving your food outside during camping; because "food".. is food to them.

As a longtime owner of two larger dogs who routinely fill our big backyard within less than a week's time, I have one objection to Crone's idea:  Sometimes, your dog's droppings are so squishy that they are next to impossible to pick up - and in those cases, I literally find older droppings, from whomever's dogs, in the greenway, and pick up several of those instead - still leaving less of a trace than there was when I arrived.  Then, there's the issue when your dog is far away, or your eyes are off him/her for a second, and even when you walk toward that spot, you can't find your animal's splat.  I suggest we consider those things and simply strive to always do the best we can!

Crone did mention that, before going the DNA route, he'll look at other solutions like education programs and handing out free poop bags.

McKee points out a great article from the group Leave No Trace, which goes more in depth on just how important it is to keep cleaning up after our dogs the norm in Colorado.

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