The San Fernando de Henares City Council will implement an innovative municipal canine census system using DNA. This initiative seeks to advance responsible dog ownership, improve cleanliness, sanitation, and coexistence in the municipality's public spaces.
The tool will serve for the protection of animals in situations of loss, theft, mistreatment, and/or abandonment. Simultaneously, it will enable genetic identification of dogs, allowing for the application of appropriate sanctions for the abandonment of canine excrement in public areas.
“"The majority of residents comply with the rules and care for the town, but with this measure, we will have an effective, fast, and safe method to act against a minority that practices uncivilized behavior. We want clean and well-maintained spaces, but also to reaffirm our commitment to animal welfare, foster responsibility, facilitate compliance with regulations, and improve coexistence."
The system will allow for the creation of a genetic database. Feces that are not collected can be analyzed to locate the responsible owner.
As a first step, the local Government Board has approved the initiation of the administrative procedure for contracting the service. Future advancements of this measure will be communicated.
