The routine is now a familiar one: Open the kit, swirl a swab around, put it in solution and wait impatiently for the results. Except this time it’s not a test for Covid it’s a DNA test for dogs.
The kits, which are used foremost to learn a dog’s breeds, first appeared some 15 years ago and their popularity has since exploded in the United States, where nearly 40 percent of all families have at least one canine companion. Having a dog and integrating them as a member of your family, you want to know where they’re from,” said Mila Bartos, a Washington lawyer.
One of the most popular test brands, Embark Vet, told AFP it experienced 235 percent growth between 2019 and 2020 alone. And the pandemic has only amplified the trend.
At around $100 to $200 a pop, the tests are not cheap. But in a country where dogs are king, the price hasn’t been a major deterrent for many pet owners. Sometimes, when a new pup parent has adopted a purebred dog, the test is meant to verify that there has been no error in the dog’s one-breed lineage. But for the owners of shelter pets, the burning question is — what IS my dog?
Bartos, 51, adopted three dogs — Natty, Maisie and Mabel — and did a DNA test for each.
The American Veterinary Medical Association said it encourages owners “to consult with their veterinarians before making any decisions based on their pets’ test results.”
Pet parents should also consider possible ramifications of finding out their dog’s breed. In many countries, certain breeds are seen as aggressive, such as pit bulls or Staffordshire terriers, and are banned from apartment buildings.
If the adoptee is half pit bull “could be an issue” with a landlord, Bartos the lawyer warned. If you don’t want to know that information, then you probably shouldn’t run a breed DNA on it” Bartos said.
Source: IOL
In other news – Gogo Maweni’s snake grows bigger – PICS
Makgotso Lee-Anne Makgopo mostly known by her traditional healer name, Gogo Maweni has recently gained notoriety following tabloid headlines that alleged that she had been involved with The Queen’s former cast member and one of her baby daddies SK Khoza’s recent disturbing behaviors.
Gogo Maweni and her publicist Simphiwe Majola have since put a stop to these rumors when they confirmed that she is not involved with how her ex SK was behaving. Learn more
