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Boulder Is Asked If DNA Can Track Dog Waste

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Boulder's park department has been asked to investigate whether DNA from dog waste could be used to track down people who don't clean up after their pets.

The Boulder Daily Camera reported Thursday City Council member Mary Young made the request after a question from a resident. The newspaper says Young couldn't be reached for comment.

The city gets frequent complaints about dog waste along trails in parks.

BioPet Vet Lab of Knoxville, Tenn., offers a "PooPrint" service that uses DNA to track down wayward dog owners for private property managers. The company says waste usually drops by 90 percent.

Boulder resident Patrick Murphy, known for documenting dog waste in parks, pooh-poohed the idea, saying residents probably wouldn't go for it. He says more park rangers would work better.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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