We're a Little Out of Control Out There . . .

Sometimes I think this world has gone completely over the edge.  Locally, first there was the discriminatory City permit required to keep an intact animal (renewable annually, but easily "overlooked"); then there was the discriminatory City Bark dog park fiasco that keeps poor Bouie on the outside looking in because he's still attached to his family jewels.  Both regulations nominally claim to protect people and other animals by keeping vicious dogs under wraps, but in effect, the regs push the overreaching policy of getting all pets spayed or neutered.  The dog park's regs push that policy by excluding intact animals from the yuppie canine haven.  Poor Bouie.

Today I read about a new policy in effect at a New Hampshire apartment complex: if you wish to keep a pet there, you must submit a sample of its DNA.  Why?  To give the complex the basis to utilize "PooPrints" -- a procedure that allows unscooped poop to be tested and matched with the perpetrator who produced said unscooped poop.  Then the complex will fine the holy bejeebers out of the perpetrator's owner, with a second offense leading to eviction.

The primary goal of the policy is obviously to encourage pet owners to clean up after their pets and therefore help prevent unpleasant encounters between human shoes and dog poop.  That's not necessarily a bad thing (I remember when Pepper asked one irresponsible dog walker whose dog always chose our yard for his comfort station what he would think about Pepper following him home and leaving a few of our baby's used diapers on his lawn).  And, PooPrints could help locate lost pets who had been swabbed.

But then one of the entrepreneurs at BioPet Vet Lab (the developer and operator of PooPrints) went a little too far in trying to sell the program -- he brought environmental impact into the mix:

"It's a huge problem with growing environmental impact," Mayer said of the waste. The PooPrints website estimates a single pet creates 276 pounds of waste per year. "We want people to be responsible and not leave things behind. Down the drain means it's going into your lakes, rivers and streams," he added.

That's a little over the top.  Where does Mr. Mayer think scooped poop goes?  Into the landfill, usually in a non-biodegradable plastic bag!

Why can't these one-issue do-gooders keep it real and not try to fabricate theories to make left-leaning tree-huggers swoon.  Sheesh.

Anyway, what do you think?  Reasonable policy, or not-so-subtle attempt at behavior modification?