Tarragona begins collecting dog excrement for genetic testing

The city of Tarragona has begun collecting dog excrement samples from public streets to identify and sanction owners who fail to clean up after their pets. The collected samples will be compared against a municipal genetic census to match DNA with registered dogs.

Authorized personnel, including the Guàrdia Urbana and municipal technicians, use sterile single-use materials to collect epithelial cells from the surface of the waste. The samples are then sealed, tracked via a unique code, and transported to a laboratory that meets international standards for canine genetic identification.

Currently, over 2,000 dogs have been registered in the genetic census. This represents approximately 16.8% to 20.2% of the city's estimated canine population of 10,000 to 12,000 animals. The project is supported by 15 active veterinary clinics.