Aprartment complex to DNA test a dog's poop to identify their owners.
Houston, TX - Dogs may be man's best friend, but their poop can be a pedestrian's worst enemy.
That's why The Fairmont Museum District apartment complex in Houston is taking an innovative step to confront a centuries-old problem.
The 236-unit residence at 4310 Dunlavy St. has contracted with PooPrints, a Tennessee company that offers canine DNA testing as a way to track down the person whose dog left a tell-tale turd.
"I think it's a great idea," said Fairmont leasing manager Molly Kalish. "The main reason we decided to try this new program was because we had a specific issue on one of our floors with accidents."
The building has a large number of dog owners, partly because of its pet-friendly policy and its location adjacent to a city dog park, Kalish said.
So far, Fairmont management has brought up DNA registration with only a small number of dog owners who live on the floor where the accidents occurred. Others will be asked to sign up as part of the building's pet policy when they renew their leases, Kalish said.
To register a participating tenant's dog, apartment staffers use a kit provided by PooPrints to collect DNA through a cheek swab.
The pet's DNA sample is then sent to PooPrints' laboratory in Tennessee, known as BioPet Vet Lab, said PooPrints spokesman Eric Mayer.
When someone's dog leaves an offending sample of waste on an apartment property, it will be tested for a potential match among the apartment's registered dogs.
In the event of a match, the owner will be given a warning on the first offense but will be fined $500 for a second offense at The Fairmont.
As part of the new pet policy, each dog owner will be assessed a "small fee" to pay for the cost of the DNA registration, Kalish said.
Tenants who have been asked to register have expressed surprisingly little resistance, Kalish said.
"In more cases than not, they were more than willing to provide a DNA sample because they want to make sure the property stays clean," she said.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Poop-police-now-have-DNA-test-to-find-dog-owners-4357202.php
Drug dogs are being used by parents to search their kids rooms.
Granbury, TX - On the hunt for illegal drugs, a dog and his handler work their way around a home’s living room.
Moments later, a loud bark and excited pawing draw attention to something hidden under the couch cushions.
A certified narcotics K9, Joe works, not for law enforcement, but for private detective Richard Stannell.
“Joe is trained to detect heroin, meth, marijuana, and cocaine,” said Stannell.
On this day, the two are training for their job by searching for pouches of simulated drugs.
When they’re hired by a client, though, they’re sniffing out the real thing.
Families hire this pair, from RK Agency Investigation, to come into their homes, for an average cost of $350.
“Parents with concerns, we could come in and help them out,” said Stannell.
He says, parents who suspect their children have a drug problem are usually right.
But, kids find clever hiding places.
“Air conditioning vents… Under the carpet, they’ll peel back carpet and hide it under the carpet, under the linings of beds, behind bureaus in bedrooms,” said Stannell.
When Joe alerts, his handler leaves it to his clients to find the actual drugs and decide what action to take.
He says, he just wants to help people find what may be hiding in their own home.
“And his nose does the rest, really,” he said.
The average cost for a visit from Joe is 350-dollars. You can find more information at rkagency.com
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/15/dogs-help-north-texas-parents-sniff-out-kids-drug-problem/