DOGS who foul the pavement in a French town will be caught immediately thanks to a controversial new DNA database, a far-right mayor announced.

    Robert Menard, who is supported by the National Front, is setting up a new canine database that will provide crucial forensic evidence.

    Dog owners in Beziers, in the south of France, will have to submit their animals’ DNA to the local council. When excrement is found around the town, scientists will be able to link it to the owner, who will receive an automatic fine equivalent to US$40.

    “This is a common-sense measure,” said Menard.

    “Local residents are in favor of the idea, because it will make the town cleaner and save money.”

    Judges sitting at the administrative court in nearby Montpellier originally described the scheme as sinister and over officious.

    Opponents also included local official Christian Pouget who said, “The moment you make dog owners declare in a file that they’re just taking their pet for a walk then it becomes disproportionate. And just because you’re taking a dog for a walk doesn’t mean you’re not respecting health rules.”

    An original legal ruling said the measure was “not intended to keep the public safe nor to prevent offense, but was purely repressive.”

    This has now been changed with the judges saying the scheme is “disproportionate to the demands of public health and safety,” but “not illegal.”

    They said the DNA database has been authorized, but it can only apply to dog waste found in Beziers town center.

    Dog excrement remains a major problem in most French cities and towns, where some owners allow their pets to foul pavements, without cleaning up.(SD-Agencies)